Main Entry:

¹in·dex

Pronunciation:

\ˈin-ˌdeks\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural in·dex·es or in·di·ces \-də-ˌsēz\

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 : indication2: a list (as of bibliographical information or citations to a body of literature) arranged usu. 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 prices3: 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 authorities4plural 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 F used to direct attention to a note or paragraph —called also fist6 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