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types
/taɪps/
The word 'type' is generally used as a count noun, meaning it can be singular ('a type') or plural ('types'). It refers to a category or kind. For example, 'What type of car do you drive?' (singular) or 'There are many types of dogs.' (plural). It is also used informally to describe a person's personality or characteristics, as in 'He's not my type.' This usage is very common in everyday conversation.
Meanings
A category of person or thing, often with a specific role or characteristic.
"She's not my type at all."
A group of people or things that share a particular quality or qualities.
"There are several types of cloud formations."
Collocations & Compounds
all types
Many different kinds or categories.
We sell all types of coffee beans.
certain types
Specific, but not explicitly named, kinds or categories.
I avoid certain types of people.
this type
Referring to a specific kind or category already mentioned or understood.
I don't like this type of music.
each type
Every individual kind or category within a group.
Each type of flower needs different care.
specific types
Particular kinds or categories that are clearly identified.
They specialize in specific types of art.
Idioms & Sayings
not my type
Someone who is not attractive or compatible with one's preferences.
He's very nice, but he's just not my type.
the typical type
The most common or representative example of a category.
She's the typical type of student here.
a type of
A kind of; a sort of.
This is a type of bird I haven't seen before.
Etymology
The word 'type' comes from the Greek word 'typos', meaning 'impression', 'mark', or 'blow'. This, in turn, derives from 'typtein', meaning 'to strike'. The word entered English in the late 14th century through Old French 'type', referring to a symbolic figure or representation, especially in religious contexts. By the 15th century, it had evolved to mean a class or category of persons or things with common characteristics. The sense related to 'printing type' emerged in the late 15th century, referring to the raised metal characters used in printing presses, which literally 'struck' the paper to make an impression. This printing sense is the direct ancestor of many modern uses, including the concept of a standard or model.