sort

[[t]sɔ͟ː(r)t[/t]]

♦

sorts, sorting, sorted

1) N-COUNT: with supp, usu N of n If you talk about a particular sort of something, you are talking about a class of things that have particular features in common and that belong to a larger group of related things.

What sort of school did you go to?...

There are so many different sorts of mushrooms available these days...

A dozen trees of various sorts were planted...

He had a nice, serious sort of smile...

That's just the sort of abuse that he will be investigating...

Eddie was playing a game of some sort...

It is the last time I will take on this sort of work...

Let's have some more articles of this sort.

Syn:

type, kind

2) N-SING: with supp You describe someone as a particular sort when you are describing their character.

He seemed to be just the right sort for the job...

She was a very vigorous sort of person...

What sort of men were they?

Syn:

type, kind

3) VERB If you sort things, you separate them into different classes, groups, or places, for example so that you can do different things with them.

[V n into n] He sorted the materials into their folders...

[V n into n] The students are sorted into three ability groups...

[V through n] He unlatched the box and sorted through the papers...

[V n] I sorted the laundry.

4) VERB: usu passive If you get a problem or the details of something sorted, you do what is necessary to solve the problem or organize the details. [INFORMAL]

[get n V-ed] I'm trying to get my script sorted...

[be V-ed] These problems have now been sorted.

Syn:

work out

5) PHRASE All sorts of things or people means a large number of different things or people.

There are all sorts of animals, including bears, pigs, kangaroos, and penguins...

It was used by all sorts of people...

Self-help groups of all sorts have been running for more than 20 years.

Syn:

all kinds

6) PHRASE: n PHR If you describe something as a thing of sorts or as a thing of a sort, you are suggesting that the thing is of a rather poor quality or standard.

He made a living of sorts selling pancakes from a van...

She even managed a grimacing smile of sorts...

They have had an education of a sort.

Syn:

of a kind

7) PHRASE (vagueness) You use sort of when you want to say that your description of something is not very accurate. [INFORMAL]

You could even order windows from a catalogue - a sort of mail order stained glass service...

In the end, she sort of pushed it...

I sort of made my own happiness.

Syn:

kind of

8) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you are out of sorts, you feel slightly unwell, upset, or annoyed. [BRIT]

9) to sort the wheat from the chaff → see chaff

nothing of the sort → see nothing

Phrasal Verbs:

- sort out