(in a nonfiction book, monograph, etc.) a more or less detailed alphabetical listing of names, places, and topics along with the numbers of the pages on which they are mentioned or discussed, usually included in or constituting the back matter.
2.
a sequential arrangement of material, esp. in alphabetical or numerical order.
3.
something used or serving to point out; a sign, token, or indication: a true index of his character.
4.
something that directs attention to some fact, condition, etc.; a guiding principle.
5.
a pointer or indicator in a scientific instrument.
6.
a piece of wood, metal, or the like, serving as a pointer or indicator.
7.
Computers.
a.
a value that identifies and is used to locate a particular element within a data array or table.
b.
a reference table that contains the keys or references needed to address data items.
8.
Also called fist, hand.Printing. a sign in the shape of a hand with extended index finger, used to point out a particular note, paragraph, etc.
9.
a light, smooth cardboard stock.
10.
the forefinger.
11.
a number or formula expressing some property, ratio, etc., of something indicated: index of growth; index of intelligence.
the integer n in a radical defining the n-th root: ∛ is a radical having index three.
c.
a subscript or superscript indicating the position of an object in a series of similar objects, as the subscripts 1, 2, and 3 in the series x1, x2, x3.
(usually initial capital letter) any list of forbidden or otherwise restricted material deemed morally or politically harmful by authorities: an Index of disapproved books relating to Communism.
to serve to indicate: warm breezes indexing the approach of spring.
23.
to place (a book) on an official list as politically or morally harmful: The commissar insisted on indexing the book.
24.
to rotate (work) on a milling machine in order to repeat the milling operation at a new position.
25.
Economics. to adjust (wages, taxes, etc.) automatically according to changes in the cost-of-living level or another economic indicator, esp. to offset inflation.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L: informer, pointer, equiv. to in-in-2+ -dec- (comb. form of dic-, show, declare, indicate; akin to teach) + -s nom. sing. ending]
Something that serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference, especially:
An alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects treated in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which each item is mentioned.
A thumb index.
A table, file, or catalog.
Computer Science A list of keywords associated with a record or document, used especially as an aid in searching for information.
Mathematics A number or symbol, often written as a subscript or superscript to a mathematical expression, that indicates an operation to be performed, an ordering relation, or a use of the associated expression.
A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data.
Something that reveals or indicates; a sign: "Her face . . . was a fair index to her disposition"(Samuel Butler).
A character () used in printing to call attention to a particular paragraph or section. Also called fist, hand.
An indicator or pointer, as on a scientific instrument.
Mathematics A number or symbol, often written as a subscript or superscript to a mathematical expression, that indicates an operation to be performed, an ordering relation, or a use of the associated expression.
A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data.
A number that represents the change in price or value of an aggregate of goods, services, wages, or other measurable quantity in comparison with a reference number for a previous period of time.
IndexRoman Catholic Church A list formerly published by Church authority, restricting or forbidding the reading of certain books.
tr.v.
in·dexed, in·dex·ing, in·dex·es
To furnish with an index: index a book.
To enter in an index.
To indicate or signal.
To adjust through indexation.
[Middle English, forefinger, from Latin; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
1398, "the forefinger," from L. index (gen. indicis) "forefinger, pointer, sign, list," lit. "anything which points out," from indicare "point out" (see indicate). Meaning "list of a book's contents" is first attested 1580, from L. phrases such as Index Nominum "Index of Names," index expurgatorius "specification of passages to be deleted from works otherwise permitted." The verb meaning "compile an index" is from 1720. Scientific sense (refractive index, etc.) is from 1829; economic sense (cost-of-living index, etc.) is after 1886. The Church sense of "forbidden books" is from index librorum prohibitorum, first published 1564 by authority of Pius IV.
an alphabetical list of names, subjects etc eg at the end of a book
Arabic:
فِهْرِس، مُؤشِّر، مِقْياس
Chinese (Simplified):
索引
Chinese (Traditional):
索引
Czech:
rejstřík
Danish:
indeks
Dutch:
register
Estonian:
tähestikuline register
Finnish:
hakemisto
French:
index
German:
der Index
Greek:
ευρετήριο
Hungarian:
(név- és tárgy)mutató
Icelandic:
atriðaskrá
Indonesian:
indeks
Italian:
indice
Japanese:
索引
Korean:
색인
Latvian:
rādītājs
Lithuanian:
indeksas, rodyklė
Norwegian:
register
Polish:
indeks
Portuguese (Brazil):
índice
Portuguese (Portugal):
índice
Romanian:
indice
Russian:
алфавитный указатель
Slovak:
index
Slovenian:
kazalo
Spanish:
índice
Swedish:
register, index
Turkish:
dizin, fihrist
index2[ˈindeks]noun
(pluralindicesˈindisiːz) in mathematics the figure which indicates the number of times a figure etc must be multiplied by itself etc Example: In 6 and 7, the figures 3 and 5 are the indices.
An alphabetical list of subjects treated in a book. It usually appears at the end of the book and identifies page numbers on which information about each subject appears.
Main Entry: in·dex Pronunciation: 'in-"deks Function: noun Inflected Form: pluralin·dex·esorin·di·ces/-d&-"sEz/ 1:FOREFINGER 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
U.S. 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
A statistical measure of change in an economy or a securities market. In the case of financial markets, an index is essentially an imaginary portfolio of securities
representing a particular market or a portion of it. Each index has its own calculation methodology and is usually expressed in terms of a change from a base value. Thus, the percentage changes is more
important that the actually numeric value. For example, knowing that a stock exchange is at, say, 5,000 doesn't tell you much. However, knowing that the index has risen 30% over the last year to 5,000
gives a much better demonstration of performance.
The plural of index can be spelled either indexes or indices.
Investopedia Commentary
The Standard &
Poor's 500 is one of the world's best known indexes, and is the most commonly used benchmark for the stock market.
Technically, you can't actually invest in an index. Rather, you invest in a
security such as an index fund or ETF that attempts to track an index as closely as possible.
To adjust a variable by a selected measure of relative value. For example, it has been proposed that an investor's basis on a security be indexed for changes in consumer prices
so that only real increases in value will be taxed. Also called tax indexing. See also subindex.
The relative value of a variable in comparison with itself on a different date. Many security price indicators such as the Standard & Poor's series and the New York Stock
Exchange series are constructed as indexes. Also called stock index. See also base
period.
Main Entry: index Function: transitive verb : to link (as wages, rates, or investments) to an index <under the contract wages were indexed to inflation>
index (Plural "indices" or "indexes") 1. A number used to select an element of a list, vector, array or other sequence. Such indices are nearly always non-negative integers but see associative array. 2. See inverted index. [Other kinds?] 3. A search engine. 4. A subject index. [The Jargon File] (1997-04-09)
Dic"tion\, n. [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach, token: cf. F. diction. See Teach, and cf. Benison, Dedicate, Index, Judge, Preach, Vengeance.] Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as, the diction of Chaucer's poems. His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur. --De Quincey. Syn: Diction, Style, Phraseology. Usage: Style relates both to language and thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at times, was careless and cumbersome. "Diction is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of style." --Crabb.
Ex*pur"ga*to*ry\, a. [Cf. F. expurgatoire.] Serving to purify from anything noxious or erroneous; cleansing; purifying. "Expurgatory animadversions." --Sir T. Browne. Expurgatory Index. See Index Expurgatorius, under Index.
In"dex\, n.; pl. E. Indexes, L. Indices(?). [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]1. That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses. Tastes are the indexes of the different qualities of plants. --Arbuthnot. 2. 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 [[hand]] used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph; -- called also fist. 3. 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. 4. A prologue indicating what follows. [Obs.] --Shak. 5. (Anat.) The second digit, that next pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger. 6. (Math.) The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices.] Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings equal to the error of the zero adjustment. Index expurgatorius. [L.] See Index prohibitorius (below). Index finger. See Index, 5. Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; a hand that points to something. Index of a logarithm (Math.), the integral part of the logarithm, and always one less than the number of integral figures in the given number. It is also called the characteristic. Index of refraction, or Refractive index (Opt.), the number which expresses the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. Thus the index of refraction for sulphur is 2, because, when light passes out of air into sulphur, the sine of the angle of incidence is double the sine of the angle of refraction. Index plate, a graduated circular plate, or one with circular rows of holes differently spaced; used in machines for graduating circles, cutting gear teeth, etc. Index prohibitorius [L.], or Prohibitory index (R. C. Ch.), a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L.], or expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time, by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians, etc., under the sanction of the pope. --Hook. Index rerum [L.], a tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of items, quotations, etc.
In"dex\, n.; pl. E. Indexes, L. Indices(?). [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]1. That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses. Tastes are the indexes of the different qualities of plants. --Arbuthnot. 2. 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 [[hand]] used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph; -- called also fist. 3. 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. 4. A prologue indicating what follows. [Obs.] --Shak. 5. (Anat.) The second digit, that next pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger. 6. (Math.) The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices.] Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings equal to the error of the zero adjustment. Index expurgatorius. [L.] See Index prohibitorius (below). Index finger. See Index, 5. Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; a hand that points to something. Index of a logarithm (Math.), the integral part of the logarithm, and always one less than the number of integral figures in the given number. It is also called the characteristic. Index of refraction, or Refractive index (Opt.), the number which expresses the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. Thus the index of refraction for sulphur is 2, because, when light passes out of air into sulphur, the sine of the angle of incidence is double the sine of the angle of refraction. Index plate, a graduated circular plate, or one with circular rows of holes differently spaced; used in machines for graduating circles, cutting gear teeth, etc. Index prohibitorius [L.], or Prohibitory index (R. C. Ch.), a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L.], or expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time, by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians, etc., under the sanction of the pope. --Hook. Index rerum [L.], a tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of items, quotations, etc.
In"dex\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Indexing.] To provide with an index or table of references; to put into an index; as, to index a book, or its contents.
Pro*hib"it*o*ry\, a. [L. prohibitorius.] Tending to prohibit, forbid, or exclude; implying prohibition; forbidding; as, a prohibitory law; a prohibitory price. Prohibitory index. (R. C. Ch.) See under Index.
Re*frac"tion\ (r?*fr?k"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]fraction.]1. The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted. 2. The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different density from that through which it has previously moved. Refraction out of the rarer medium into the denser, is made towards the perpendicular. --Sir I. Newton. 3. (Astron.) (a) The change in the direction of a ray of light, and, consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly body from which it emanates, arising from its passage through the earth's atmosphere; -- hence distinguished as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction. (b) The correction which is to be deducted from the apparent altitude of a heavenly body on account of atmospheric refraction, in order to obtain the true altitude. Angle of refraction (Opt.), the angle which a refracted ray makes with the perpendicular to the surface separating the two media traversed by the ray. Conical refraction (Opt.), the refraction of a ray of light into an infinite number of rays, forming a hollow cone. This occurs when a ray of light is passed through crystals of some substances, under certain circumstances. Conical refraction is of two kinds; external conical refraction, in which the ray issues from the crystal in the form of a cone, the vertex of which is at the point of emergence; and internal conical refraction, in which the ray is changed into the form of a cone on entering the crystal, from which it issues in the form of a hollow cylinder. This singular phenomenon was first discovered by Sir W. R. Hamilton by mathematical reasoning alone, unaided by experiment. Differential refraction (Astron.), the change of the apparent place of one object relative to a second object near it, due to refraction; also, the correction required to be made to the observed relative places of the two bodies. Double refraction (Opt.), the refraction of light in two directions, which produces two distinct images. The power of double refraction is possessed by all crystals except those of the isometric system. A uniaxial crystal is said to be optically positive (like quartz), or optically negative (like calcite), or to have positive, or negative, double refraction, according as the optic axis is the axis of least or greatest elasticity for light; a biaxial crystal is similarly designated when the same relation holds for the acute bisectrix. Index of refraction. See under Index. Refraction circle (Opt.), an instrument provided with a graduated circle for the measurement of refraction. Refraction of latitude, longitude, declination, right ascension, etc., the change in the apparent latitude, longitude, etc., of a heavenly body, due to the effect of atmospheric refraction. Terrestrial refraction, the change in the apparent altitude of a distant point on or near the earth's surface, as the top of a mountain, arising from the passage of light from it to the eye through atmospheric strata of varying density.
Re*fract"ive\ (r?*fr?kt"?v), a. [Cf. F. r['e]fractif. See Refract.] Serving or having power to refract, or turn from a direct course; pertaining to refraction; as, refractive surfaces; refractive powers. Refractive index. (Opt.) See Index of refraction, under Index. Absolute refractive index (Opt.), the index of refraction of a substances when the ray passes into it from a vacuum. Relative refractive index (of two media) (Opt.), the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction for a ray passing out of one of the media into the other.
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Audio Help [in-deks] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -dex·es, -di·ces 
defining the n-th root: ∛ is a radical having index three. 
) used in printing to call attention to a particular paragraph or section. Also called fist, hand.
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