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Definition of kind noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    kind

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//kaɪnd//
     
    [countable, uncountable]
     
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  1. 1  a group of people or things that are the same in some way; a particular variety or type three kinds of cake music of all/various/different kinds Exercises of this kind are very popular. What kind of house do you live in? They sell all kinds of things. The school is the first of its kind in the city. She isn't that kind of girl. The regions differ in size, but not in kind. I need to buy paper and pencils, that kind of thing. I'll never have that kind of money (= as much money as that).
  2. 2(formal) Would you like a drink of some kind?
    3. Grammarkind / type / sortUse the singular (kind/type/sort) or plural (kinds/types/sorts) depending on the word you use before them:each/one/every kind of animal all/many/other types of animalsKind/type/sort of is followed by a singular or uncountable noun:This type of question often appears on the test. That sort of behavior is not acceptable.Kinds/types/sorts of is followed by a plural or uncountable noun:These types of questions often appear on the test. These sorts of behavior are not acceptable.Other variations are possible in spoken English, but are less common, and are considered incorrect in formal written English:These types of question often appear on the test. These kind of things don’t happen in real life.Note also that these examples are possible, especially in spoken English:The shelf was full of the sort of books I like to read. He faced the same kind of problems as his predecessor. There are many different types of animal on the island. What kind of camera is this? What kind/kinds of cameras do you sell? There were three kinds of cakes/cake on the plate.Idioms
      in kind
       
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    1. 1(of a payment) consisting of goods or services, not money As well as his salary, he gets benefits in kind.
    2. 2(formal) with the same thing She insulted him and he responded in kind.
    a kind of (informal)
     
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    used to show that something you are saying is not exact I had a kind of feeling this might happen.
    kind of (informal) (also kinda)
     
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    slightly; in some ways That made me feel kind of stupid. I like him, kind of.
    nothing of the kind/sort
     
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    used to emphasize that the situation is very different from what has been said “I was terrible!” “You were nothing of the kind.”
      of a kind
       
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    1. 1(disapproving) not as good as it could be You're making progress of a kind.
    2. 2very similar They're two of a kind—both workaholics!
    one of a kind
     
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    the only one like this synonym unique My father was one of a kind—I'll never be like him.
    something of the/that kind
     
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    something like what has been said “He's resigning.” “I'd suspected something of the kind.”
See kind in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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