kind1

Syllabification: (kind)

Pronunciation: /kīnd/

Translate kind | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of kind

noun

a group of people or things having similar characteristics:all kinds of music a new kind of education more data of this kind would be valuable
character; nature:the trials were different in kind from any that preceded them true to kind
each of the elements (bread and wine) of the Eucharist:communion in both kinds

Phrases

in kind: in the same way; with something similar:if he responded positively, they would respond in kind; (of payment) in goods or services as opposed to money.
one's (own) kind: people with whom one has a great deal in common:we stick with our own kind
someone's kind: used to express disapproval of a certain type of person:I don’t apologize to her kind ever
kind of: informal rather; to some extent (often expressing vagueness or used as a meaningless filler):it got kind of cozy
a kind of: something resembling (used to express vagueness or moderate a statement):teaching based on a kind of inspired guesswork
nothing of the kind: not at all like the thing in question:my son had done nothing of the kind before; used to express an emphatic denial:“He made you do that?” “He did nothing of the kind.”
of its kind: within the limitations of its class:this new building was no doubt excellent of its kind
of a kind: used to indicate that something is not as good as it might be expected to be:there is tribute, of a kind, in such popularity
one of a kind: unique.
something of the kind: something like the thing in question:they had always suspected something of the kind
two (or three, four, etc.) of a kind: the same or very similar:she and her sister were two of a kind; (of cards) having the same face value but of a different suit.; a hand consisting of cards having the same face value but in different suits.

Origin:

Old English cynd(e), gecynd(e), of Germanic origin; related to kin. The original sense was 'nature, the natural order,' also 'innate character, form, or condition' (compare with kind²); hence 'a class or race distinguished by innate characteristics'

1 Kind of is sometimes used to be deliberately vague: it was kind of a big evening; I was kind of hoping you’d call. More often it reveals an inability to speak clearly: he’s kind of, like, inarticulate, you know? Used precisely, it means ‘sort’ or ‘type’: a maple is a kind of tree. 2 The plural of kind often causes difficulty. With this or that, speaking of one kind, use a singular construction: this kind of cake is my favorite; that kind of fabric doesn’t need ironing. With these or those, speaking of more than one kind, use a plural construction: these kinds of guitars are very expensive; those kinds of animals ought to be left in the wild. Although often encountered, sentences such as I don’t like these kind of things are incorrect. The same recommendations apply to sort and sorts.

kind in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of kind in the British & World English dictionary

Subscriber login

Library card login

Other

kind1

noun

Phrases

in kind

one's (own) kind

someone's kind

kind of

a kind of

nothing of the kind

of its kind

of a kind

one of a kind

something of the kind

two (or three, four, etc.) of a kind

Origin:

kind in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for kind

Word of the day

merrythought