indicator

in·di·ca·tor

noun \ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər\

Definition of INDICATOR

1

: one that indicates: as

a : an index hand (as on a dialect) : pointer

b (1) : gauge 2b, dialect 4a (2) : an instrument for automatically making a diagram that indicates the pressure in and volume of the working fluid of an engine throughout the cycle

2

a : a substance (as litmus) used to show visually (as by change of color) the condition of a solution with respect to the presence of a particular material (as a free acid or alkali)

b : tracer 4b

3

: an organism or ecological community so strictly associated with particular environmental conditions that its presence is indicative of the existence of these conditions

4

: any of a group of statistical values (as level of employment) that taken together give an indication of the health of the economy

— in·dic·a·to·ry \in-ˈdi-kə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

Examples of INDICATOR

1. Economic indicators suggest that prices will go up.
2. a control panel with various indicator lights

First Known Use of INDICATOR

1666

Related to INDICATOR

Synonyms

hand, index, pointer, needle

Related Words

dial, face, gauge (also gage)

Rhymes with INDICATOR

abdicator, abnegator, activator, actuator, adulator, advocator, agitator, alligator, allocator, animator, annotator, applicator, arbitrator, aspirator, aviator, brachiator, buccinator, calculator, calibrator, captivator, carburetor, castigator, circulator, commentator, commutator, compensator, compurgator, concentrator, confiscator, congregator, consecrator, consummator, contemplator, corporator, correlator, cultivator, decorator, defalcator, delegator, demonstrator, denigrator, depredator, desecrater, designator, detonator, deviator, dissipater, dominator, dura mater, educator, elevator, emulator, escalator, estimator, excavator, explicator, expurgator, extirpator, fabricator, fascinator, figure skater, flocculator, formulator, fornicator, fractionator, fumigator, generator, gladiator, hesitater, hibernator, imitator, immolator, impregnator, incubator, infiltrator, in-line skater, innovator, inhalator, inspirator, instigator, insulator, integrator, lacrimator, liberator, liquidator, literator, lubricator, macerator, masticator, mediator, mitigator, moderator, modulator, motivator, mutilator, navigator, nomenclator, nominator, numerator, obturator, operator, orchestrator, oscillator, peculator, percolator, perforator, perpetrator, pia mater, pollinator, postulator, procreator, procurator, promulgator, propagator, punctuator, radiator, re-creator, remonstrator, renovator, resonator, respirator, revelator, roller skater, rubricator, rusticator, salivator, second-rater, selling-plater, separator, simulator, stimulator, subjugator, Sunset Crater, syncopator, syndicator, tabulator, terminator, vaccinator, vacillator, valuator, venerator, ventilator, vindicator, violator, vitiator

in·di·ca·tor

noun \ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of INDICATOR

: a substance (as a dye) used to show visually usually by its capacity for color change the condition of a solution with respect to the presence of free acid or alkali or some other substance (as in detecting the end point of a titration) <litmus and phenolphthalein are acid-base indicators>