index

¹in·dex

noun \ˈin-ˌdeks\

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

Definition of INDEX

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

Examples of INDEX

1. Look up the recipe for potato soup in the index.
2. Potato soup is listed under “soup” in the index.
3. The card catalog is an index to the materials in the library.
4. the index on a scale

Origin of INDEX

Latin indic-, index, from indicare to indicate

First Known Use: 1561

Related to INDEX

Synonyms

hand, pointer, indicator, needle

Related Words

dial, face, gauge (also gage)

Rhymes with INDEX

annex, apex, codex, complex, convex, cortex, culex, desex, duplex, DX, fourplex, ibex, ilex, Kleenex, latex, mirex, murex, MX, narthex, perplex, Perspex, phone sex, pollex, Pyrex, reflex, Rx, safe sex, scolex, silex, silvex, simplex, spandex, telex, Tex-Mex, triplex, unsex, vertex, vortex

²index

verb

Definition of INDEX

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

— in·dex·er noun

Examples of INDEX

1. This search engine has indexed hundreds of millions of Web sites.
2. <indexed all the books in the library by category>

First Known Use of INDEX

1720

Related to INDEX

Synonyms

catalog (or catalogue), enroll (also enrol), enter, ¹list, inscribe, put down, record, register, schedule, slate

Related Words

book, card, file, note; classify, compile, tabulate, tally; reschedule

Near Antonyms

delete

in·dex

noun \ˈin-ˌdeks\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; in·dex·esor ; in·di·ces \-də-ˌsēz\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of INDEX

1

: index finger

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) <Index Medicus of the United States National Library of Medicine>

3

a : a ratio or other number derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure (as of a condition, property, or phenomenon) <physiochemical indexes of the urine, the blood, and the gastric juice—Journal of the American Medical Association> b : the ratio of one dimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension—see cephalic index, cranial index