taɪp n. & v. --n. 1 a a
class of things or persons having
common characteristics. b a kind or
sort (would like a
different type of car). 2 a
person,
thing, or
event serving as an
illustration,
symbol, or
characteristic specimen of
another, or of a class. 3 (in comb.)
made of, resembling, or functioning as (ceramic-type
material; Cheddar-type cheese). 4 colloq. a person,
esp. of a specified
character (is
rather a
quiet type; is
not really my type). 5 an
object,
conception, or
work of art serving as a
model for subsequent artists. 6
Printing a a
piece of
metal etc.
with a raised
letter or character on
its upper
surface for
use in printing. b a kind or size of
such pieces (printed in
large type). c a set or supply of
these (ran
short of type). 7 a
device on
either side of a
medal or
coin. 8 Theol. a foreshadowing in
the Old Testament of a person or event of the
Christian dispensation. 9 Biol. an
organism having or
chosen as having the
essential characteristics of its
group and giving its
name to the
next highest group. --v. 1 tr. be a type or
example of. 2 tr. & intr.
write with a
typewriter. 3 tr. esp. Biol. &
Med.
assign to a type;
classify. 4 tr. =
TYPECAST. øin type Printing composed and
ready for printing. type-founder a
designer and
maker of metal types. type-foundry a
foundry where type is made. type-metal Printing an
alloy of lead
etc., used for
casting printing-types. type
site Archaeol. a site where objects regarded as defining the characteristics of a
period etc. are found. type specimen Biol. the specimen used for naming and describing a
new species. øøtypal adj. [ME f. F type or L typus f. Gk tupos
impression,
figure, type, f. tupto strike]
