Definitions for index
ˈɪn dɛks; -dəˌsizin·dex

Princeton's WordNet(3.08 / 13 votes)Rate this definition:

1. index(noun)

   a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number

2. index, index number, indicant, indicator(noun)

   a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time

3. exponent, power, index(noun)

   a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself

4. index(noun)

   an alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed

5. index, index finger, forefinger(verb)

   the finger next to the thumb

6. index(verb)

   list in an index

7. index(verb)

   provide with an index

   "index the book"

8. index(verb)

   adjust through indexation

   "The government indexes wages and prices"

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Index(n.)

   A number providing a measure of some quantity derived by a formula, usually a form of averaging, from multiple quantities; -- used mostly in economics; as, the index of leading indicators; the index of industrial production; the consumer price index. See, for example, the consumer price index.

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

2. Index(n.)

   (computers) A file containing a table with the addresses of data items, arranged for rapid and convenient search for the addresses.

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

3. Index(n.)

   (computers) A number which serves as a label for a data item and also represents the address of a data item within a table or array.

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

4. Index(n.)

   (R. C. Ch.), The Index prohibitorius, a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; also called Index of forbidden books and Index Librorum Prohibitorum.

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

5. Index(n.)

   That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses; as, the increasing unemployment rate is an index of how much the economy has slowed.

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

6. Index(n.)

   A table for facilitating reference to topics, names, and the like, in a book, usually giving the page on which a particular word or topic may be found; -- usually alphabetical in arrangement, and printed at the end of the volume. Typically found only in non-fiction books.

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

7. Index(v. t.)

   (Economics) To adjust (wages, prices, taxes, etc.) automatically so as to compensate for changes in prices, usually as measured by the consumer price index or other economic measure. Its purpose is usually to copensate for inflation.

8. Index(v. t.)

   To insert (a word, name, file folder, etc.) into an index or into an indexed arrangement; as, to index a contract under its date of signing.

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. index(Noun)

   An alphabetical listing of items and their location; for example, the index of a book lists words or expressions and the pages of the book upon which they are to be found.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

2. index(Noun)

   The index finger, the forefinger, or other pointer.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

3. index(Noun)

   A sign; an indication; a token.

   His son's empty guffaws ... struck him with pain as the indices of a weak mind.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

4. index(Noun)

   A type of noun where the meaning of the form changes with respect to the context. E.g., 'Today's newspaper' is an indexical form since its referent will differ depending on the context. See also icon and symbol.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

5. index(Noun)

   A single number calculated from an array of prices or of quantities.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

6. index(Noun)

   A number representing a property or ratio, a coefficient.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

7. index(Noun)

   A raised suffix indicating a power.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

8. index(Noun)

   An integer or other key indicating the location of data e.g. within a vector, database table, associative array, or hash table.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

9. index(Noun)

   A data structure that improves the performance of operations on a table.

   Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

10. index(Verb)

    To arrange an index for something, especially a long text.

    Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

11. index(Verb)

    To inventory, to take stock.

    Etymology: From index, from indico; see indicate.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Index(noun)

   that which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

2. Index(noun)

   that which guides, points out, informs, or directs; a pointer or a hand that directs to anything, as the hand of a watch, a movable finger on a gauge, scale, or other graduated instrument. In printing, a sign used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph; -- called also fist

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

3. Index(noun)

   a table for facilitating reference to topics, names, and the like, in a book; -- usually alphabetical in arrangement, and printed at the end of the volume

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

4. Index(noun)

   a prologue indicating what follows

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

5. Index(noun)

   the second digit, that next pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

6. Index(noun)

   the figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

7. Index(verb)

   to provide with an index or table of references; to put into an index; as, to index a book, or its contents

   Etymology: [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Index

   An index is a list of words or phrases and associated pointers to where useful material relating to that heading can be found in a document. In a traditional back-of-the-book index the headings will include names of people, places and events, and concepts selected by a person as being relevant and of interest to a possible reader of the book. The pointers are typically page numbers, paragraph numbers or section numbers. In a library catalog the words are authors, titles, subject headings, etc., and the pointers are call numbers. Internet search engines, such as Google, and full text searching help provide access to information but are not as selective as an index, as they provide non-relevant links, and may miss relevant information if it is not phrased in exactly the way they expect.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Index

   in′deks, n. anything that indicates or points out: a hand that directs to anything, as the hour of the day, &c.: the forefinger: alphabetical list of subjects treated of in a book: (math.) the exponent of a power:—pl. Indexes (in′deks-ez), and in math., Indices (in′di-sēz).—v.t. to provide with or place in an index.—ns. In′dex-dig′it, In′dex-fing′er, the forefinger, or in other animals that digit representing the human index.—adjs. Index′ical; In′dexless, without an index.—Index Expurgatorius, in the R.C. Church, an authoritative list of books only to be read in expurgated editions; Index Librorum Expurgandorum, or Index Librorum Prohibitorum, an official list of books which the faithful are absolutely forbidden to read at all under pain of instant excommunication; Index rerum, an index of subjects; Index verborum, an index of words. [L. index, indicis—indicāre, to show.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. index

   The flat bar which carries the nonius scale and index-glass of a quadrant, octant, quintant, or sextant.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'index' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2224

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'index' in Nouns Frequency: #892

Anagrams for index »

1. nixed

How to pronounce index?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say index in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of index in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of index in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of index in a Sentence

1. Dennis Aabo Sørensen:

   When the scientists stimulate my nerves I could feel the vibration and the sense of touch in my phantom index finger, the touching sensations is quite close to when you feel it with your normal finger; you can feel the coarseness of the plates, and the different gaps and ribs.

2. Jim Dunigan:

   While there are exceptions in given years, what's most interesting about the index's history is that since the beginning, year-over-year increases have averaged 2.8 percent, which is exactly the same number as the U.S. inflation index.

3. Matthew Vaight:

   Merely constructing a portfolio in relation to a specific index is, in our mind, the wrong approach, there's no point in holding shares in a company you don't like just because it's in an index.

4. Todd Rosenbluth:

   Just 21 percent of large-cap funds have outperformed the S&P 500 index in the first five months, hard to justify investors returning to active funds.

5. Elvis Picardo:

   The TSX was pretty much firing on all cylinders right until September, then once the collapse in crude oil prices started, sentiment for the index really took a total turn.

Images & Illustrations of index

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