sort
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
sorts
plural
sorts
Britannica Dictionary definition of SORT
1
[count]
:
a group of people or things that have some shared quality
:
a particular kind or type of person or thing
-
animals of various sorts
-
What sort of car do you drive?
-
Is this some sort of a joke? [=is this a joke?]
2
[singular]
:
a person of a particular type
-
He's not a bad sort.
-
She's not the sort to complain.
3
[count]
technical
:
the act of separating things and putting them in a particular order
:
the act of sorting things
-
The program did a numeric sort of the data.
all sorts of
:
a large number or variety of (things or people)
:
many
-
The movie appeals to all sorts of people.
-
They've been having all sorts of problems. [=they've been having a lot of problems]
of sorts
or of a sort
:
in some ways but not entirely or exactly
-
It was a vacation of sorts. [=it was like a vacation in some ways, although it wasn't really a vacation]
-
He's a poet of sorts. [=he writes some poetry but he is not really a poet]
of the sort
:
like the person or thing mentioned
-
“You said you didn't like him.” “I said nothing of the sort.” [=I didn't say that at all]
-
I would like to go to a movie or a concert, or something of the sort. [=something like that]
out of sorts
1
:
somewhat angry or unhappy
-
My boss is (feeling) out of sorts today.
2
:
somewhat ill
-
I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm feeling a little out of sorts.
sort of
informal
:
to some small degree
:
slightly or somewhat
-
I feel sort of foolish.
-
I think he sort of likes me.
-
You look sort of like my cousin.
-
“Did you enjoy the movie?” “Sort of.”
-
The walls were (painted) sort of blue. = The walls were (painted in) sort of a blue color.
2
sort
/ˈsoɚt/
verb
sorts;
sorted;
sorting
2
sort
/ˈsoɚt/
verb
sorts;
sorted;
sorting
Britannica Dictionary definition of SORT
[+ object]
1
:
to separate and put (people or things) in a particular order
— often + out
-
She started to sort the mail.
-
They sorted the winners from the losers.
-
The program can sort data alphabetically or numerically.
-
He sorted out the socks by color.
-
I finally sorted out the mess in the attic.
2
British, informal
:
to deal with (something or someone) in a successful way
-
We need to get this problem sorted. [=sorted out]
sort out
[phrasal verb]
1
sort (something) out
or
sort out (something)
a
:
to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking
-
I'm trying to sort out [=find out, figure out] a way to do it.
b
:
to find an answer or solution for (something)
-
He's still trying to sort out his problems.
-
We need to get these problems sorted out as soon as possible.
c
◊ If something sorts itself out, it stops being a problem without anyone having to do anything.
-
They decided to wait until things sorted themselves out.
2
sort (someone) out
or
sort out (someone)
a
:
to solve the problems of (someone)
-
They're still trying to sort their son out. [=trying to sort out their son's problems]
-
I just need a little more time to sort myself out.
b
British, informal
:
to deal with (someone who is causing problems) in a forceful way
—
see also 2sort 1 (above)
-
I told my brother they were bullying me, and he promised to sort them out (for me).
sort through
[phrasal verb]
sort through (something)
:
to look at things and put them in a particular order especially while you are searching for something
-
He sorted through the papers.
