Adjacent Words

Index definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

IN'DEX, n. plu. indexes, sometimes indices. [L. connected with idico, to show; in and dico.]
1. That which points out; that which shows or manifests.
Tastes are the indexes of the different qualities of plants.
2. The hand that points to any thing, as the hour of the day, the road to a place.
3. A table of the contents of a book.
A table of references in an alphabetical order.
4. In anatomy, the fore finger, or pointing finger.
5. In arithmetic and algebra, that which shows to what power any quantity is involved; the exponent.
6. The index of a globe, or the gnomon, is a little style fitted on the north pole, which by turning with the globe, serves to point to certain divisions of the hour circle.
7. In music, a direct, which see.
Index expurgatory, in catholic countries, a catalogue of prohibited books.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number
2: a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time [syn: index, index number, indicant, indicator]
3: a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself [syn: exponent, power, index]
4: an alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed
5: the finger next to the thumb [syn: index, index finger, forefinger] v
1: list in an index
2: provide with an index; "index the book"
3: adjust through indexation; "The government indexes wages and prices"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural indexes or indices) Etymology: Latin indic-, index, from indicare to indicate Date: 1561 1. a. a device (as the pointer on a scale or the gnomon of a sundial) that serves to indicate a value or quantity b. something (as a physical feature or a mode of expression) that leads one to a particular fact or conclusion ; indication 2. a list (as of bibliographical information or citations to a body of literature) arranged usually in alphabetical order of some specified datum (as author, subject, or keyword): as a. a list of items (as topics or names) treated in a printed work that gives for each item the page number where it may be found b. thumb index c. a bibliographical analysis of groups of publications that is usually published periodically d. a list of publicly traded companies and their stock prices 3. a list of restricted or prohibited material; specifically capitalized a formerly published list of books the reading of which was prohibited or restricted for Roman Catholics by the church authorities 4. plural usually indices a number or symbol or expression (as an exponent) associated with another to indicate a mathematical operation to be performed or to indicate use or position in an arrangement <3 is the index of the expression ?5 to indicate the cube root of 5> 5. a character ? used to direct attention to a note or paragraph — called also fist 6. a. a number (as a ratio) derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure; specifically index number b. the ratio of one dimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension II. verb Date: 1720 transitive verb 1. a. to provide with an index b. to list in an index <all persons and places mentioned are carefully indexed> 2. to serve as an index of 3. to regulate (as wages, prices, or interest rates) by indexation intransitive verb to index something • indexer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. (pl. indexes or esp. in technical use indices) 1 an alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc., with references, usu. at the end of a book. 2 = card index. 3 (in full index number) a number showing the variation of prices or wages as compared with a chosen base period (retail price index; Dow-Jones index). 4 Math. a the exponent of a number. b the power to which it is raised. 5 a a pointer, esp. on an instrument, showing a quantity, a position on a scale, etc. b an indicator of a trend, direction, tendency, etc. c (usu. foll. by of) a sign, token, or indication of something. 6 Physics a number expressing a physical property etc. in terms of a standard (refractive index). 7 Computing a set of items each of which specifies one of the records of a file and contains information about its address. 8 (Index) RC Ch. hist. a list of books forbidden to Roman Catholics to read. 9 Printing a symbol shaped like a pointing hand, used to draw attention to a note etc. --v.tr. 1 provide (a book etc.) with an index. 2 enter in an index. 3 relate (wages etc.) to the value of a price index. Phrases and idioms: index finger the forefinger. index-linked related to the value of a retail price index. Derivatives: indexation n. indexer n. indexible adj. indexical adj. indexless adj. Etymology: ME f. L index indicis forefinger, informer, sign: sense 8 f. L Index librorum prohibitorum list of prohibited books

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Index In"dex, n.; pl. E. Indexes, L. Indices(?). [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.] 1. That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses. Tastes are the indexes of the different qualities of plants. --Arbuthnot. 2. That which guides, points out, informs, or directs; a pointer or a hand that directs to anything, as the hand of a watch, a movable finger on a gauge, scale, or other graduated instrument. In printing, a sign [[hand]] used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph; -- called also fist.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Index In"dex, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Indexing.] To provide with an index or table of references; to put into an index; as, to index a book, or its contents.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Index In"dex, n. The ratio, or formula expressing the ratio, of one dimension of a thing to another dimension; as, the vertical index of the cranium.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(indices, indexes, indexing, indexed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. Note: The usual plural is 'indexes', but the form 'indices' can be used for meaning 1. 1. An index is a system by which changes in the value of something and the rate at which it changes can be recorded, measured, or interpreted. ...the UK retail price index. ...economic indices. N-COUNT: with supp 2. An index is an alphabetical list that is printed at the back of a book and tells you on which pages important topics are referred to. There's even a special subject index. N-COUNT 3. If you index a book or a collection of information, you make an alphabetical list of the items in it. This vast archive has been indexed and made accessible to researchers... She's indexed the book by author, by age, and by illustrator. VERB: be V-ed, V n 4. If a quantity or value is indexed to another, a system is arranged so that it increases or decreases whenever the other one increases or decreases. Minimum pensions and wages are to be indexed to inflation. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n 5. see also card index

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. [L. pl. Indices, Eng. pl. Indexes.] 1. Pointer, hand, director. 2. Alphabetical table of references, table of contents. 3. Exponent. 4. Characteristic (of a logarithm), integral part. 5. (Anat.) Fore-finger.

Moby Thesaurus

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