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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ar·ray       (ə-rā')  Pronunciation Key  tr.v.   ar·rayed, ar·ray·ing, ar·rays To set out for display or use; place in an orderly arrangement: arrayed the whole regiment on the parade ground. To dress in finery; adorn. n.   An orderly, often imposing arrangement: an array of royal jewels. An impressively large number, as of persons or objects: an array of heavily armed troops; an array of spare parts. See Synonyms at display. Splendid attire; finery. Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix. Numerical data linearly ordered by magnitude. Computer Science An arrangement of memory elements in one or more planes. [Middle English arraien, from Anglo-Norman arraier, from Vulgar Latin *arrēdāre; see reidh- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
array 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

array
noun
1.	an orderly arrangement; "an array of troops in battle order"
2.	an impressive display; "it was a bewildering array of books"; "his tools were in an orderly array on the basement wall"
3.	especially fine or decorative clothing
4.	an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics
verb
1.	lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line; "lay out the clothes"; "lay out the arguments" [syn: range]
2.	align oneself with a group or a way of thinking [syn: align]

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

array       (ə-rā')  Pronunciation Key  Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix. Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ¹ar·ray
Pronunciation: &-'rA
Function: transitive verb
: 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

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ²array
Function: noun
: 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

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

array
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.
See also associative array.
2. A processor array, not to be confused with an array processor.
(1995-01-25)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Array

Ar*ray"\, n. [OE. arai, arrai, OF. arrai, arrei, arroi, order, arrangement, dress, F. arroi; a (L. ad) + OF. rai, rei, roi, order, arrangement, fr. G. or Scand.; cf. Goth. raidjan, garaidjan, to arrange, MHG. gereiten, Icel. rei[eth]i rigging, harness; akin to E. ready. Cf. Ready, Greith, Curry.]

1. Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle; as, drawn up in battle array.

Wedged together in the closest array. --Gibbon.

2. The whole body of persons thus placed in order; an orderly collection; hence, a body of soldiers.

A gallant array of nobles and cavaliers. --Prescott.

3. An imposing series of things.

Their long array of sapphire and of gold. --Byron.

4. Dress; garments disposed in order upon the person; rich or beautiful apparel. --Dryden.

5. (Law) (a) A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impaneled in a cause. (b) The panel itself. (c) The whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court.

To challenge the array (Law), to except to the whole panel. --Cowell. --Tomlins. --Blount.

Commission of array (Eng. Hist.), a commission given by the prince to officers in every county, to muster and array the inhabitants, or see them in a condition for war. --Blackstone.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Array

Ar*ray"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Arraying.] [OE. araien, arraien, fr. OE. arraier, arreier, arreer, arroier, fr. arrai. See Array, n.]

1. To place or dispose in order, as troops for battle; to marshal.

By torch and trumpet fast arrayed, Each horseman drew his battle blade. --Campbell.

These doubts will be arrayed before their minds. --Farrar.

2. To deck or dress; to adorn with dress; to cloth to envelop; -- applied esp. to dress of a splendid kind.

Pharaoh . . . arrayed him in vestures of fine linen. --Gen. xli.?.

In gelid caves with horrid gloom arrayed. --Trumbull.

3. (Law) To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them man by man. --Blackstone.

To array a panel, to set forth in order the men that are impaneled. --Cowell. --Tomlins.

Syn: To draw up; arrange; dispose; set in order.