ETYM French type; cf. Italian tipo, from Latin typus a figure, image, a form, type, character; cf. Skr. tup to hurt.
1. A subdivision of a particular kind of thing; SYN. kind, sort, ilk, species.
2. Printed characters.
3. A small block of metal bearing a raised character on one end; produces a printed character when inked and pressed on paper.
4. All of the tokens of the same symbol.
5. (Biology) The taxonomic group whose characteristics are used to define the next higher taxon.

1. In programming, the nature of a variable—for example, integer, real number, text character, or floating-point number. Data types in programs are declared by the programmer and determine the range of values a variable can take as well as the operations that can be performed on it. See also data type.
2. In printing, the characters that make up printed text, the design of a set of characters (typeface), or, more loosely, the complete set of characters in a given size and style (font). See also font, typeface.

1. To identify as belonging to a certain type; SYN. typecast.
2. To write by means of a typewriter; SYN. typewrite.

To enter information by means of the keyboard.