type
/taɪp/ (bre, ipa) · /taɪp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtīp/ (ame, mw)
type — noun
- typesingular
- typesplural
1. one among several possible varieties of something, where all members of that var
one among several possible varieties of something, where all members of that variety have similar features.
What type of music does Talia enjoy listening to?
type of + noun (music)
This new type of battery lasts much longer than the old one.
type of + noun phrase with comparative
Rodrigo grows several types of vegetables in his garden every summer.
The library keeps a special type of book for young children learning to read.
What type of weather can visitors expect during the rainy season in Taipei?
- kind
less formal and slightly more common in everyday speech; e.g. 'What kind of dog is that?'
- sort
slightly informal; often used in British English; e.g. 'What sort of job are you looking for?'
- category
more formal and suggests a deliberate system of classification; e.g. 'This award has three categories.'
- variety
emphasises the range within a group; used with 'of': 'a wide variety of choices'
文法句型
type of + noun
type of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'of' to introduce the larger category the group belongs to. The plural 'types of' is also common: 'all types of people', 'different types of food'.
常見錯誤
2. someone whose nature and habits lead you to view them as a representative exampl
someone whose nature and habits lead you to view them as a representative example of a broader set of people.
Tunde is the artistic type — he spends every weekend painting in his studio.
the [adjective] type
Ayesha is not the type of person who gives up when things get difficult.
the type of person who...
Jude is a quiet type who prefers reading to going to parties.
People often think Sumin is the athletic type because she swims every morning before work.
The librarian was a friendly type who helped everyone find what they needed.
- kind of person
more conversational; e.g. 'He is a kind person, the helpful kind.'
- sort
informal, similar to 'type' in describing personality; British English preference
文法句型
type of + person/people
the ... type
a ... type
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives describing personality or interests: 'the serious type', 'the outdoors type'. Can also describe a negative trait: 'He is the scheming type.' The structure 'the type to do something' is also possible: 'She is not the type to complain.'
常見錯誤
3. the sort of person who tends to catch your romantic interest, so that you can sa
the sort of person who tends to catch your romantic interest, so that you can say whether someone fits that image or not.
Anya told me that tall men with glasses are her type.
be [possessive] type
Christopher asked Quinn out, but Quinn said Christopher was not his type.
not [possessive] type — rejection in dating context
Walid is confident and funny, which is exactly Lotte's type.
After a few dates Yumi decided that artists and musicians were more her type.
文法句型
[possessive] type
be someone's type
用法筆記
Almost always used as a possessive or in the pattern 'be someone's type'. Only describes romantic or physical attraction, not friendships. Can be negated to politely decline interest: 'He is nice, but he is just not my type.'
常見錯誤
4. the particular design and size of the characters that appear in printed material
the particular design and size of the characters that appear in printed material or on a computer screen.
The warning was printed in bold type so that nobody would miss it.
in bold type — common pattern for emphasis
Trang could not read the small type on the medicine bottle without her reading glasses.
small type — describes font size
The newspaper changed its type to make the articles easier for older readers to see.
The report had headings in large type and body text in a smaller size.
- typeface
more specific; refers to the design of the characters, not the size; e.g. 'Times New Roman is a common typeface.'
- font
modern term, especially in computing; includes size and style; e.g. 'Change the font to 12-point Arial.'
- print
broader term covering all printed characters; e.g. 'The print in this dictionary is very clear.'
文法句型
in [adjective] type
set in type
small/large/bold type
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'a type' to mean a font. For a specific font design, use 'typeface' or 'font'. 'Print' is a broader term that covers all printed characters, while 'type' specifically refers to the visual style and size.
常見錯誤
type — verb
- typepresent simple I / you / we / they
- types3rd person singular
- typing-ing form
- typedpast simple
1. to produce words or text on a computer, phone, or typewriter by pressing keys or
to produce words or text on a computer, phone, or typewriter by pressing keys or tapping a screen.
Talia typed her email quickly and sent it before the meeting started.
type + direct object (email)
Lotte can type sixty words per minute without looking at the keyboard.
type + adverbial measure (intransitive)
Please type your password into the box and press enter.
The doctor typed the patient's information into the hospital computer system.
Sumin typed that the project was almost finished and would be ready by Friday.
文法句型
type + noun
type + that-clause
type (no object)
用法筆記
This verb can be used both with an object ('type a letter') and without ('please type slowly'). On phones and tablets, 'type' is still the common word despite tapping rather than pressing physical keys. 'Key in' is an alternative for entering data into a system.
常見錯誤
2. to put a person or thing into a particular group or kind based on their features
to put a person or thing into a particular group or kind based on their features; to decide what category they belong to.
The hospital staff typed the patient's blood before the operation.
type + noun (blood) — medical classification
Anya was typed as a comedy actress early on and struggled to get serious roles.
passive: be typed as [role]
Biologists typed the newly discovered plant as a member of the sunflower family.
The software types each email as important or unimportant based on its content.
- classify
more general and more common than 'type' for everyday sorting; e.g. 'Scientists classify animals into groups.'
- categorise
slightly more formal; focuses on putting into defined categories; e.g. 'Books are categorised by genre.'
- typecast
specific to actors being given the same kind of role repeatedly; e.g. 'After playing a villain, he was typecast.'
文法句型
type + noun + as + noun/adjective
be typed as
be typed into
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice. Common in medical, scientific, and entertainment contexts. 'Blood typing' is a fixed phrase in hospitals. In entertainment, 'typecast' is more common than 'typed' for actors always getting similar roles.