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index

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Index
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in⋅dex

  [in-deks] noun, plural -dex⋅es, -di⋅ces  [-duh-seez] , verb
Use index in a Sentence
–noun
1. (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.
12. Statistics. index number.
13. Economics. price index.
14. Algebra.
a. an exponent.
b. 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.
d. winding number.
15. Horology. a leverlike regulator for a hairspring.
16. (initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church.
a. Index Librorum Prohibitorum.
b. Index Expurgatorius.
17. (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.
18. Optics. index of refraction.
19. Obsolete.
a. a table of contents.
b. a preface or prologue.
–verb (used with object)
20. to provide with an index, as a book.
21. to enter in an index, as a name or topic.
22. 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

Related forms:
in⋅dex⋅a⋅ble, adjective
in⋅dex⋅er, noun
in⋅dex⋅i⋅cal, adjective
in⋅dex⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
in⋅dex⋅less, adjective
Index
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index number

 
–noun Statistics.
a quantity whose variation over a period of time measures the change in some phenomenon.
Also called index.

Origin:
1870–75

index of refraction

 
–noun Optics.
a number indicating the speed of light in a given medium as either the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to that in the given medium (absolute index of refraction) or the ratio of the speed of light in a specified medium to that in the given medium (relative index of refraction). Symbol: n
Also called index, refractive index.

Origin:
1820–30

winding number

 
–noun Mathematics.
the number of times a closed curve winds around a point not on the curve.
Also called index.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To index
in·dex   (ĭn'děks')   
n.   pl. in·dex·es or in·di·ces (-dĭ-sēz')

  1. Something that serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference, especially:

    1. An alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects treated in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which each item is mentioned.

    2. A thumb index.

    3. A table, file, or catalog.

    4. Computer Science A list of keywords associated with a record or document, used especially as an aid in searching for information.

    5. 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.

    6. A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data.

  2. Something that reveals or indicates; a sign: "Her face . . . was a fair index to her disposition" (Samuel Butler).

  3. A character () used in printing to call attention to a particular paragraph or section. Also called fist, hand.

  4. An indicator or pointer, as on a scientific instrument.

    1. 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.

    2. A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data.

  6. 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.

  7. Index Roman 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

  1. To furnish with an index: index a book.

  2. To enter in an index.

  3. To indicate or signal.

  4. To adjust through indexation.


[Middle English, forefinger, from Latin; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
in'dex'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

index

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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

index 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

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 &amp 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.

Related Links

Index Investing Tutorial
A Market By Any Other Name
Indexes: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

See also: DAX, DJIA, DJTA, DJUA, E-mini, ETF, FTSE, Index Arbitrage, Index Fund, Index Futures, Index Hugger, Index Option, Passive Management, S&P 500, Wilshire 5000 Index

Also spelled: Index, Indices, Indice

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Financial Dictionary

index

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.


index

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.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·dex
Function: noun
: a numerical measure or indicator (as of inflation or economic performance) —see also CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Main Entry: index
Function: transitive verb
: to link (as wages, rates, or investments) to an index indexed to inflation>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·dex
Pronunciation: 'in-"deks
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural in·dex·es or in·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 theU.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, orphenomenon) indexes of the urine, the blood, and the gastric juice —Journal of the American Medical Association> b : the ratio of onedimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension —see CEPHALIC INDEX, CRANIAL INDEX

Main Entry: index of refraction
Function: noun
: the ratio of the speed of radiation (as light) in one medium (as a vacuum) to that in another medium called alsorefractive index
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

index in·dex (ĭn'děks')
n. pl. in·dex·es or in·di·ces (-dĭ-sēz')

  1. A guide, standard, indicator, symbol, or number indicating the relation of one part or thing to another in respect to size, capacity, or function.

  2. A core or mold used to record or maintain the relative position of a tooth or teeth to one another or to a cast.

  3. A guide, usually made of plaster, used to reposition teeth, casts, or parts.

  4. The index finger.

in'dex' v.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

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)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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