sort

/sɔ:t/

Friendly

Sure! Let's break down the word "sort" in a way that is easy to understand.

Definition:

"Sort" is a word that can be used as both a noun and a verb.

Word Variants:

• Sorting (noun/verb): The process of putting things into categories.
  • Example: "The sorting of the mail takes a long time."
• Sorted (adjective): Organized or classified.
  • Example: "The sorted files are much easier to find."

Different Meanings:

• Sort can also refer to a type of quality or characteristic in non-literal ways.
  • Example: "She has a sort of charm," indicates an undefined quality of charm.

Synonyms:

• Noun Synonyms: type, kind, category, class, variety
• Verb Synonyms: arrange, classify, organize, categorize, group

Advanced Usage:

• In a technical context, "sort" can refer to algorithms in computer science that arrange data in a specific order.
  • Example: "We need to sort this data before we analyze it."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Sort out: To organize or resolve a problem.
  • Example: "I need to sort out my schedule for next week."
• Sort of: Used to indicate that something is not exact, but close enough.
  • Example: "It was sort of a surprise party," meaning it was not a fully planned surprise.

Summary:

"Sort" is a versatile word that helps us categorize, describe, and organize things.

Academic

Noun

1. an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion
   • the bottleneck in mail delivery is the process of sorting
2. a person of a particular character or nature
   • what sort of person is he?
   • he's a good sort
3. an approximate definition or example
   • she wore a sort of magenta dress
   • she served a creamy sort of dessert thing
4. a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
   • sculpture is a form of art
   • what kinds of desserts are there?

Verb

1. arrange or order by classes or categories
   • How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?
2. examine in order to test suitability
   • screen these samples
   • screen the job applicants

Synonyms

• sorting
• kind
• form
• variety
• classify
• class
• assort
• sort out
• separate
• screen
• screen out
• sieve