Definition of Index

1. Noun. A numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number.


2. Verb. List in an index.
Generic synonyms: List
Specialized synonyms: Cross-index
Derivative terms: Indexer

3. Noun. 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.

4. Verb. Provide with an index. "Index the book"
Category relationships: Publication, Publishing
Generic synonyms: Furnish, Provide, Render, Supply
Derivative terms: Indexer, Indexing

5. Noun. A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself.
Exact synonyms: Exponent, Power
Specialized synonyms: Degree, Log, Logarithm
Generic synonyms: Mathematical Notation
Derivative terms: Exponential

6. Verb. Adjust through indexation. "The government indexes wages and prices"
Generic synonyms: Determine, Influence, Mold, Regulate, Shape
Derivative terms: Indexation

7. Noun. An alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed.
Terms within: Key Word
Group relationships: Back Matter, End Matter
Generic synonyms: List, Listing
Specialized synonyms: Concordance
Derivative terms: Indexical

8. Noun. The finger next to the thumb.
Exact synonyms: Forefinger, Index Finger
Generic synonyms: Finger

Definition of Index

1. n. That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses.

2. v. t. To provide with an index or table of references; to put into an index; as, to index a book, or its contents.

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

Definition of Index

1. Noun. An alphabetical listing of items and their location; for example, the index of a book lists words or expressions and the pages of the book upon which they are to be found. ¹

2. Noun. The index finger, the forefinger, or other pointer. ¹

3. Noun. A sign; an indication; a token. ¹

4. Noun. (linguistics) A type of noun where the meaning of the form changes with respect to the context. E.g., 'Today's newspaper' is an indexical form since its referent will differ depending on the context. See also icon and symbol. ¹

5. Noun. (economics) A single number calculated from an array of prices or of quantities. ¹

6. Noun. (science) A number representing a property or ratio, a coefficient. ¹

7. Noun. (mathematics) A raised suffix indicating a power. ¹

8. Noun. (programming computing) An integer or other key indicating the location of data e.g. within a vector, database table, associative array, or hash table. ¹

9. Noun. (computing databases) A data structure that improves the performance of operations on a table. ¹

10. Verb. (transitive) To arrange an index for something, especially a long text. ¹

11. Verb. To inventory, to take stock. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Index

1. a type of reference guide at the end of a book [n INDEXES or INDICES] / to provide with an index [v -ED, -ING, -ES]

Medical Definition of Index

1. Origin: 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 used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph; called also fist. 3. A table for facilitating reference to topics, names, and the like, in a book; usually alphabetical in arrangement, and printed at the end of the volume. 4. A prologue indicating what follows. 5. The second digit, that next pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger. 6. The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices] Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings equal to the error of the zero adjustment. Index expurgatorius. [L] See Index prohibitorius (below). Index finger. See Index. Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; a hand that points to something. Index of a logarithm, a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L], or expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time, by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians, etc, under the sanction of the pope. Index rerum [L], a tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of items, quotations, etc. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Index

indeterminist
indeterministic
indeterminists
indevirginate
indevote
indevotion
indevour
indevoured
indevouring
indevours
indevout
indew
indewed
indewing
indews
index's
index ametropia
index card
index cards
index case
index extensor muscle
index finger
index fingers
index fossil
index fossils
index fund
index hypermetropia
index myopia
index number

Literary usage of Index

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. New Light on the Early History of the Greater Northwest: The Manuscript by Alexander Henry, David Thompson (1897)
"N. В.—This index covers all the matter of the two preceding volumes, ... It is mainly an index of names, proper and common, without analysis of what comes ..."

2. Publications by Pali Text Society (London, England) (1901)
"index to Pali Words DISCUSSED IN TRANSLATIONS, UY MABEL HAYNES BODE, PH.D., MRAS A FEW words of preface are needed to explain a title perhaps rather large ..."

3. The History of British India by James Mill, Horace Hayman Wilson (1858)
"index TO MILL'S HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA, VOL. I. TO VI. [For Indian Terms and Titles not to be found in this index, consult the Glossary prefixed to Vol. ..."

4. The Practical Model Calculator: For the Engineer, Mechanic, Machinist by Oliver Byrne (1852)
"... powers are multiplied together, their product will be that power whose index is ... and 2 + 2 = 4 its index; and 8 x 16 = 128, and 3 + 4 = 7 its index; ..."

5. The Political State of Italy by Theodore Lyman (1820)
"Last edition of the index—works prohibited—the first decree relating to books, ... Rules that now govern the congregation—the index and nature of the works ..."

6. Transactions of the Pathological Society of London by Pathological Society of London (1901)
"ABNORMALITY (see section Teratology following the index of General Subjects). ... L, The index is classified under the following sections and in this order ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Index on Dictionary.com!Search for Index on Thesaurus.com!Search for Index on Google!Search for Index on Wikipedia!