First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1sort
noun \ˈsȯrt\
: a group of people or things that have some shared quality : a particular kind or type of person or thing
: a person of a particular type
: the act of separating things and putting them in a particular order : the act of sorting things
Full Definition of SORT
1
a : a group set up on the basis of any characteristic in common : class, kind b : one approximating the character or qualities of another <a sort of latter-day Abe Lincoln> c : person, individual <he's not a bad sort>
3
4
a : a letter or character that is one element of a font b : a character or piece of type that is not part of a regular font
5
: an instance of sorting <a numeric sort of a data file>
— after a sort
: in a rough or haphazard way <plays the piano, after a sort>
— all sorts of
: many different : all kinds of <knows all sorts of people>
— of sorts or of a sort
: in some respects but not entirely or truly <a vacation of sorts>
See sort defined for English-language learners
See sort defined for kids
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Origin of SORT
Middle English, from Anglo-French, fate, lot, characteristic, from Latin sort-, sors lot, share, category — more at series
Related to SORT
Synonym Discussion of SORT
type, kind, sort, nature, description, character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities. type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group <one of three basic body types>. kind may suggest natural grouping <a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind>. sort often suggests some disparagement <the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories>. nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses <two problems of a similar nature>. description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined <not all acts of that description are actually illegal>. character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type <research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character>.
2sort
verb
: to separate and put (people or things) in a particular order
: to deal with (something or someone) in a successful way
Full Definition of SORT
transitive verb1
a : to put in a certain place or rank according to kind, class, or nature <sort apples> <sort mail> b : to arrange according to characteristics : classify —usually used with out <sort out colors>
2
chiefly Scottish : to put to rights : put in order
3
a : to examine in order to clarify —used with out <sorting out his problems> b : to free of confusion : clarify —used with out <waited until things sorted themselves out>
intransitive verb
1
: to join or associate with others especially of the same kind <sort with thieves>
See sort defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SORT
14th century
Related to SORT
- Synonyms
- chum, company, consociate, consort, fraternize, hang (around or out), hobnob, hook up, mess around, pal (around), run, associate, travel
- Antonyms
- differ (from), disagree (with)
SORTING Defined for Kids
1sort
noun \ˈsȯrt\
Definition of SORT for Kids
1
: a group of persons or things that have something in common : kind <all sorts of people>
2
: person 1, individual <He was not a bad sort.>
2sort
verb
sort·edsort·ing
Definition of SORT for Kids
1
: to separate and arrange according to kind or class <Sort the beads by color.>
2
: 1search 1 <He sorted through a stack of papers.>
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