late 15c., "symbol, emblem," from Latin typus "figure, image, form, kind," from Greek typos "dent, impression, mark, figure, original form," from root of typtein "to strike, beat," from PIE root *(s)teu- "to strike, cut, hew" (see steep (adj.)). Extended 1713 to printing blocks with letters carved on them. The meaning "general form or character of some kind, class" is first in English 1843, though it had that sense in Latin and Greek. To be someone's type "be the sort of person that person is attracted to" is recorded from 1934.
"to write with a typewriter," 1888; see type (n.). Related: Typed; typing.
type (tīp)
n.
A number of people or things having in common traits or characteristics that distinguish them as a group or class.
The general character or structure held in common by a number of people or things considered as a group or class.
A person or thing having the features of a group or class.
An example or a model having the ideal features of a group or class.
A taxonomic group, especially a genus or species, chosen as the representative example in characterizing the larger taxonomic group to which it belongs.
The specimen on which the original description and naming of a taxon is based.
programming
A variable which can hold values of any type or a programming language in which some or all variables are like this.
An example would be VBScript, or Visual Basic's variant type.
(2003-12-22)
occurs only once in Scripture (1 Cor. 10:11, A.V. marg.). The Greek word _tupos_ is rendered "print" (John 20:25), "figure" (Acts 7:43; Rom. 5:14), "fashion" (Acts 7:44), "manner" (Acts 23:25), "form" (Rom. 6:17), "example" or "ensample" (1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:7; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12). It properly means a "model" or "pattern" or "mould" into which clay or wax was pressed, that it might take the figure or exact shape of the mould. The word "type" is generally used to denote a resemblance between something present and something future, which is called the "antitype."