type
1. type \'ti-p\ n [LL typus, fr. L & Gk; L typus image, fr. Gk typos blow,
impr] often attrib ession, model, fr. typtein to strike, beat; akin to L
stuprum defilement 1a: a person or thing (as in the Old Testament) believed
to foreshadow anot her (as in the New Testament) 1b: one having qualities
of a higher category : MODEL 1c: a lower taxonomic category selected as a
standard of reference for a hi gher category; also : a specimen or series
of specimens on which a taxonomic species or subspecies is actually based
2: a distinctive mark or sign 3a: a rectangular block typically of metal
or wood bearing a relief charact er from which an inked print is made 3b: a
collection of such blocks 3c: TYPEFACE 3d: printed letters 4a: qualities
common to a number of individuals that distinguish them as an identifiable
class : as 4a1: the morphological, physiological, or ecological characters
by which re lationship between organisms may be recognized 4a2: the form
common to all instances of a word 4b: a typical and often superior
specimen 4c: a particular kind, class, or group : as 4c1: a taxonomic
category essentially equivalent to a division or phylum 4c2: a group
distinguishable on physiologic or serological bases 4c3: one of a
hierarchy of mutually exclusive classes in logic suggested to avoid
paradoxes 4d: something distinguishable as a variety : SORT R: TYPE may
suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included
so that each is typical of the group; KIND and SORT imply a group with less
explicit resemblances; KIND may suggest natural grouping; SORT often
suggests some disparagement; NATURE may imply inherent, essential
resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses; DESCRIPTION
implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as
described or defined; CHARACTER implies a group marked by distinctive
likenesses peculiar to the type SYN syn KIND, SORT, NATURE, DESCRIPTION,
CHARACTE
2. type vt 1: to represent beforehand as a type : PREFIGURE 2: to produce
a copy of; also : REPRESENT, TYPIFY 3: TYPEWRITE 4: to identify as
belonging to a type : as 4a: to determine the natural type of (as a blood
sample) 4b: TYPECAST : TYPEWRITE