ar·ray

[uh-rey]
verb (used with object)
1.
to place in proper or desired order; marshal: Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle.
2.
to clothe with garments, especially of an ornamental kind; dress up; deck out: She arrayed herself in furs and diamonds.
noun
3.
order or arrangement, as of troops drawn up for battle.
4.
military force, especially a body of troops.
5.
a large and impressive grouping or organization of things: He couldn't dismiss the array of facts.
6.
regular order or arrangement; series: an array of figures.
7.
a large group, number, or quantity of people or things: an impressive array of scholars; an imposing array of books.
8.
attire; dress: in fine array.
9.
an arrangement of interrelated objects or items of equipment for accomplishing a particular task: thousands of solar cells in one vast array.
10.
Mathematics, Statistics.
a.
an arrangement of a series of terms according to value, as from largest to smallest.
b.
an arrangement of a series of terms in some geometric pattern, as in a matrix.
11.
Computers. a block of related data elements, each of which is usually identified by one or more subscripts.
12.
Radio. antenna array.
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Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English arrayen < Anglo-French arayer, Old French are(y)er < Germanic; compare Old English ārǣdan to prepare, equivalent to ā- a-3 + ræde ready

Related forms
ar·ray·er, noun
un·ar·rayed, adjective
well-ar·rayed, adjective

Synonyms
1. arrange, range, order, dispose. 2. apparel, dress, attire; ornament, adorn, decorate. 3. disposition. 5. show, exhibit, exhibition. 8. raiment.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
array (əˈreɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  an impressive display or collection
2.  an orderly or regular arrangement, esp of troops in battle order
3.  poetic rich clothing; apparel
4.  maths a sequence of numbers or symbols in a specified order
5.  maths a set of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns, as in a determinant or matrix
6.  electronics an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics, used esp in radar
7.  law a panel of jurors
8.  the arming of military forces
9.  computing a regular data structure in which individual elements may be located by reference to one or more integer index variables, the number of such indices being the number of dimensions in the array
 
—vb
10.  to dress in rich attire; adorn
11.  to arrange in order (esp troops for battle); marshal
12.  law to draw up (a panel of jurors)
 
[C13: from Old French aroi arrangement, from arayer to arrange, of Germanic origin; compare Old English arǣdan to make ready]
 
ar'rayal
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

array
c.1300, from O.Fr. areer "to put in order," from V.L. *ar-redare (cf. It. arredare), from L. ad- "to" + Frank. *ræd- "ready" (cognate with Goth. garadis, O.E. geræde "ready;" see ready).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
array   (ə-rā')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.

  2. Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

array definition


1. A collection of identically typed data items distinguished by their indices (or "subscripts"). The number of dimensions an array can have depends on the language but is usually unlimited.
An array is a kind of aggregate data type. A single ordinary variable (a "scalar") could be considered as a zero-dimensional array. A one-dimensional array is also known as a "vector".
A reference to an array element is written something like A[i,j,k] where A is the array name and i, j and k are the indices. The C language is peculiar in that each index is written in separate brackets, e.g. A[i][j][k]. This expresses the fact that, in C, an N-dimensional array is actually a vector, each of whose elements is an N-1 dimensional array.
Elements of an array are usually stored contiguously. Languages differ as to whether the leftmost or rightmost index varies most rapidly, i.e. whether each row is stored contiguously or each column (for a 2D array).
Arrays are appropriate for storing data which must be accessed in an unpredictable order, in contrast to lists which are best when accessed sequentially. Array indices are integers, usually natural numbers, whereas the elements of an associative array are identified by strings.
2. A processor array, not to be confused with an array processor.
(2007-10-12)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Example sentences
Investigators will install a data collection system in participants' cars that
  measures an array of driver activity.
Containers come in a dazzling array of shapes, colors, and materials.
The array of alternatives for overseas pursuits places varying degrees of
  demands on family members.
In theory, there is a wide array of options, from extending maturities to
  imposing steep write-downs on the value of the debt.
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