(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.]
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.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
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.
