a particular kind, species, variety, class, or group, distinguished by a common character or nature

to develop a new sort of painting; nice people, of course, but not really our sort.

character, quality, or nature

young people of a nice sort.

an example of something that is undistinguished or barely adequate

He is a sort of poet.

manner, fashion, or way

We spoke in this sort for several minutes.

Printing .

any of the individual characters making up a font of type.

characters of a particular font that are rarely used.

an instance of sorting.

to arrange according to sort, kind, or class; separate into sorts; classify

to sort socks; to sort eggs by grade.

to separate or take from other sorts or from others (often fol. by out )

to sort the good from the bad; to sort out the children's socks.

to assign to a particular class, group, or place (often fol. by with, together, etc.)

to sort people together indiscriminately.

Scot. to provide with food and shelter.

Computers . to place (records) in order, as numerical or alphabetical, based on the contents of one or more keys contained in each record. Compare key 1 ( def. 19 ) .

Archaic . to suit; agree; fit.

British Dialect . to associate, mingle, or be friendly. ?

sort out,

evolve; develop; turn out

We'll just have to wait and see how things sort out.

to put in order; clarify

After I sort things out here, I'll be able to concentrate on your problem.

of sorts

of a mediocre or poor kind

a tennis player of sorts.

of one sort or another; of an indefinite kind. Also, of a sort.

out of sorts

in low spirits; depressed.

in poor health; indisposed; ill.

in a bad temper; irritable

to be out of sorts because of the weather.

Printing . short of certain characters of a font of type.

sort of

Informal . in a way; somewhat; rather

Their conversation was sort of tiresome.

verb

disorder , disorganize

noun

array , batch , battery , body , brand , breed , category , character , class , clutch , denomination , description , family , genus , group , ilk , kind , likes , likes of , lot , make , nature , number , order , parcel , quality , race , set , species , stamp , stripe , style , suite , cast , feather , manner , mold , type , variety , disposition , grade , strain , thing , way

verb

arrange , assort , button down , catalogue , categorize , choose , class , classify , comb , cull , distribute , divide , file , grade , group , order , peg , pick , pigeonhole * , put down as , put down for , put in order , put in shape , put to rights , rank , riddle , screen , select , separate , sift , size up , systematize , tab , typecast , winnow , pigeonhole , array , deploy , dispose , marshal , organize , range , accord , agree , alphabetize , associate , batch , brand , breed , collate , collection , compartmentalize , concinnate , conform , conjoin , consort , description , family , fraternize , gender , genus , harmonize , ilk , kind , manner , nature , orchestrate , part , race , segregate , species , suit , tabulate , type , variety