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 : 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 F 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