array

verb

ar·ray | \ ə-ˈrā

arrayed; arraying; arrays

Definition of array

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to dress or decorate especially in splendid or impressive attire : adorn … he had already arrayed himself in his best clothes.— Thomas Hardy

2a : to set or place in order : draw up, marshal the forces arrayed against us

b : to set or set forth in order (something, such as a jury) for the trial of a cause

3 : to arrange or display in or as if in an array The … data are arrayed in descending order.— Ed Burnett

array

noun

Definition of array (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an imposing group : large number faced a whole array of problems also : variety, assortment a broad array of styles

2a : a regular and imposing grouping or arrangement : order lined up … in soldierly array— Donald Barthelme

b law : an orderly listing of jurors impaneled

3a : clothing, attire

b : rich or beautiful apparel : finery

4 : a body of soldiers : militia the baron and his feudal array

5a(1) : a number of mathematical elements arranged in rows and columns

(2) : a data structure in which similar elements of data are arranged in a table

b : a series of statistical data arranged in classes in order of magnitude

6 : a group of elements forming a complete unit an antenna array

Other Words from array Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about array

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Examples of array in a Sentence

Verb

She arrayed herself in rich velvets and satins. a door arrayed for the holidays with a beautiful evergreen wreath

Noun

an array of solar panels an array of baseball gloves in the corner of his room

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Just before dusk, the first pickup trucks roll past the checkpoint and array themselves across the desert on the outskirts of Agadez, Niger. — Robert Draper, National Geographic, "Surrounded by chaos, Niger is a nation on the edge," 17 June 2019 Los Angeles company Makers + Goods sources feel-good products that benefit various causes, arrays them in gift baskets and delivers to your door. — Kavita Daswani, latimes.com, "Father's Day gift ideas for the fitness-minded dad," 8 June 2018 By the time the fighting had subsided, thousands of innocents had lost their lives — including five American nuns, who Taylor’s soldiers mistakenly believed to be cooperating with the forces arrayed against them. — Jeremy Roebuck, Philly.com, "Another Liberian in Delco stands trial for alleged role in brutal civil war," 11 June 2018 Meanwhile, 46 battalions of Russia's Western Military District and the Kaliningrad Oblast—about nine combat divisions' worth—are arrayed against them. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "U.S. Official: Russia Could Defeat NATO in Less Than 3 Days," 14 June 2016 Naturally, the royal crash pad is beyond glamorous by today’s standards, with seemingly endless rooms arrayed in antiques, royal portraits, and family treasures, including an original Fabergé egg (more on that later). — Olivia Martin, Town & Country, "The Story of the Incredible Paris Apartment in The Romanoffs Episode 1," 12 Oct. 2018 Facebook Oculus Quest builds sensors into the headset itself, with four cameras arrayed around the edges of the visor. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "The $399 Oculus Quest is a premium VR headset with no wires—and no PC required," 26 Sep. 2018 The Gatling featured four to ten barrels arrayed around a central axis and a top-loading magazine which loaded each barrel in turn before the continuing turn of the gun's crank fired the weapon. — Matthew Moss, Popular Mechanics, "The Story of the Gatling Gun," 22 Aug. 2016 The final step is to dig the hundreds of horizontal burial shafts, arrayed like fish bones along the deepest access tunnels. — Tim Heffernan, Popular Mechanics, "Finland's Crazy Plan to Make Nuclear Waste Disappear," 10 May 2012

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

For instance, the upholstered versions from the Inside are available in an array of zippy prints, including classic ones from Scalamandre, and could just as easily serve as a backdrop for a sofa or a headboard for a bed. — Michelle Brunner, Twin Cities, "Room dividers — and all their old-Hollywood charm — are back," 15 June 2019 Today, light bulbs are available in a dizzying array of types, sizes, and shapes. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "Let There Be Light: A Smart Buyer’s Guide to Light Bulbs," 14 June 2019 This season they’re being offered in an array of colors and silhouettes. — James Love, Essence, "Gear Up For Summer In Bold Animal Print Swimwear," 14 June 2019 The league’s eight members compete in an array of Division I sports, including some rarely found at the typical state flagship. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "Bribery scandal points to the athletic factor: A major force in college admissions," 13 June 2019 Cook has been involved in an array of community service endeavors benefiting young people, such as the Teen-Advisory Group. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Area’s best of the best for grades and games," 13 June 2019 The bracelet lights up in an array of fluorescent lights that switch from blue to white to red to teal. — Tatum Dooley, Teen Vogue, "Jewelry Designer Yoon Ahn Shares New Bracelet Featuring Colorful Flashing Lights," 12 June 2019 The league’s eight members compete in an array of Division I sports, including some rarely found at the typical state flagship. — Nick Anderson, Washington Post, "Bribery scandal points to the athletic factor: A major force in college admissions," 12 June 2019 Studies have uncovered associations between lower 2D:4D ratios and better performance in an array of athletic events, including soccer, long-distance running, rugby, skiing, rowing, and basketball. — Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, "Talk to the hand. Scientists try to debunk idea that finger length can reveal personality and health," 6 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'array.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for array

The first known use of array was in the 13th century

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More Definitions for array

array

verb

English Language Learners Definition of array

(Entry 1 of 2)

formal

: to place (a group of things) in a particular position so that they are in order or so that they look attractive

literary : to dress (someone, especially yourself) in fine clothing

: to put (soldiers) in a place or position so that they are ready to attack

array

noun

English Language Learners Definition of array (Entry 2 of 2)

: a large group or number of things

: a group of numbers, symbols, etc., that are arranged in rows and columns

: a way of organizing pieces of information in the memory of a computer so that similar kinds of information are together

See the full definition for array in the English Language Learners Dictionary

array

verb

ar·ray | \ ə-ˈrā

arrayed; arraying

Kids Definition of array

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to place in order Soldiers arrayed themselves for review. The table was arrayed with all sorts of delicacies.

2 : to dress especially in fine or beautiful clothing He was arrayed like a prince.

array

noun

Kids Definition of array (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an impressive group You can choose from an array of colors.

2 : a group of persons (as soldiers) in a certain order

3 : fine or beautiful clothing They were dressed in magnificent array.

4 : regular order or arrangement

5 : a group of mathematical elements (as numbers or letters) arranged in rows and columns

array

transitive verb

ar·ray | \ ə-ˈrā

Legal Definition of array

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to set (a jury) for trial specifically : to set (a jury) by calling out the names of the jurors one at a time — compare impanel

array

noun

Legal Definition of array (Entry 2 of 2)

: the group of people summoned to serve as jurors from which the jury will be chosen also : a list of the jurors' names — see also challenge to the array at challenge — compare venire