An instrument used to monitor the operation or condition of an engine, furnace, electrical network, reservoir, or other physical system; a meter or gauge.
The needle, dial, or other registering device on such an instrument.
Chemistry Any of various substances, such as litmus or phenolphthalein, that indicate the presence, absence, or concentration of another substance or the degree of reaction between two or more substances by means of a characteristic change, especially in color.
Ecology A plant or animal whose existence in an area is strongly indicative of specific environmental conditions.
Any of various statistical values that together provide an indication of the condition or direction of the economy.
a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time [syn: index]
2.
a signal for attracting attention
3.
a device for showing the operating condition of some system
4.
(chemistry) a substance that changes color to indicate the presence of some ion or substance; can be used to indicate the completion of a chemical reaction or (in medicine) to test for a particular reaction
indicatorAudio Help (ĭn'dĭ-kā'tər) Pronunciation Key
A chemical compound that changes color and structure when exposed to certain conditions and is therefore useful for chemical tests. Litmus, for example, is an indicator that becomes red in the presence of acids and blue in the presence of bases.
One that indicates, especially a pointer or an index.
An instrument used to monitor the operation or condition of an engine, an electrical network, or another physical system; a
meter or gauge.
The needle, dial, or other registering device on such an instrument.
Any of various substances, such as litmus or phenolphthalein, that indicate the presence,
absence, or concentration of another substance or the degree of reaction between substances by means of a characteristic change, especially in color.
Main Entry: in·di·ca·tor Pronunciation: 'in-d&-"kAt-&r Function: noun : a substance (as a dye) used to show visually usually by
its capacity for color change the condition of a solution with respect to the presence of free acid or alkali or some other substance (as in detecting the end point of a titration) <litmus and
phenolphthalein are acid-base indicators>
Anything used to predict future financial or economic trends.
Investopedia Commentary
In the context of technical analysis, an indicator is
a mathematical calculation based on a securities price and/or volume. The result is used to predict future prices. In an economic context, an indicator could be a measure such as the unemployment rate
which can be used to predict future economic trends.
A variable used to forecast the value or change in the value of another variable. For example, changes in the producer price index are used to forecast subsequent changes
in the consumer price index. Likewise, some financial analysts believe a change in the money supply is an indicator of the direction of the stock market. See also technical indicator.
Card\, n. [F. carte, fr. L. charta paper, Gr. ? a leaf of paper. Cf. Chart.]1. A piece of pasteboard, or thick paper, blank or prepared for various uses; as, a playing card; a visiting card; a card of invitation; pl. a game played with cards. Our first cards were to Carabas House. --Thackeray. 2. A published note, containing a brief statement, explanation, request, expression of thanks, or the like; as, to put a card in the newspapers. Also, a printed programme, and (fig.), an attraction or inducement; as, this will be a good card for the last day of the fair. 3. A paper on which the points of the compass are marked; the dial or face of the mariner's compass. All the quartere that they know I' the shipman's card. --Shak. 4. (Weaving) A perforated pasteboard or sheet-metal plate for warp threads, making part of the Jacquard apparatus of a loom. See Jacquard. 5. An indicator card. See under Indicator. Business card, a card on which is printed an advertisement or business address. Card basket (a) A basket to hold visiting cards left by callers. (b) A basket made of cardboard. Card catalogue. See Catalogue. Card rack, a rack or frame for holding and displaying business or visiting card. Card table, a table for use inplaying cards, esp. one having a leaf which folds over. On the cards, likely to happen; foretold and expected but not yet brought to pass; -- a phrase of fortune tellers that has come into common use; also, according to the programme. Playing card, cards used in playing games; specifically, the cards cards used playing which and other games of chance, and having each pack divided onto four kinds or suits called hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. The full or whist pack contains fifty-two cards. To have the cards in one's own hands, to have the winning cards; to have the means of success in an undertaking. To play one's cards well, to make no errors; to act shrewdly. To play snow one's cards, to expose one's plants to rivals or foes. To speak by the card, to speak from information and definitely, not by guess as in telling a ship's bearing by the compass card. Visiting card, a small card bearing the name, and sometimes the address, of the person presenting it.
Di"a*gram\, n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to mark out by lines; dia` through + ? to draw, write: cf. F. diagramme. See Graphic.]1. (Geom.) A figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement, or facilitate a demonstration; a plan. 2. Any simple drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes, or to assist a verbal explanation which refers to it; a mechanical drawing, as distinguished from an artistical one. Indicator diagram. (Steam Engine) See Indicator card, under indicator
Hon"ey\, n. [OE. honi, huni, AS. hunig; akin to OS. honeg, D. & G. honig, OHG. honag, honang, Icel. hunang, Sw. h[*a]ning, Dan. honning, cf. Gr. ? dust, Skr. kaa grain.]1. A sweet viscid fluid, esp. that collected by bees from flowers of plants, and deposited in the cells of the honeycomb. 2. That which is sweet or pleasant, like honey. The honey of his language. --Shak. 3. Sweet one; -- a term of endearment. --Chaucer. Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus. --Shak. Note: Honey is often used adjectively or as the first part of compound; as, honeydew or honey dew; honey guide or honeyguide; honey locust or honey-locust. Honey ant (Zo["o]l.), a small ant (Myrmecocystus melliger), found in the Southwestern United States, and in Mexico, living in subterranean formicares. There are larger and smaller ordinary workers, and others, which serve as receptacles or cells for the storage of honey, their abdomens becoming distended to the size of a currant. These, in times of scarcity, regurgitate the honey and feed the rest. Honey badger (Zo["o]l.), the ratel. Honey bear. (Zo["o]l.) See Kinkajou. Honey buzzard (Zo["o]l.), a bird related to the kites, of the genus Pernis. The European species is P. apivorus; the Indian or crested honey buzzard is P. ptilorhyncha. They feed upon honey and the larv[ae] of bees. Called also bee hawk, bee kite. Honey creeper (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of small, bright, colored, passerine birds of the family C[oe]rebid[ae], abundant in Central and South America. Honey easter (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of small passerine birds of the family Meliphagid[ae], abundant in Australia and Oceania; -- called also honeysucker. Honey flower (Bot.), an evergreen shrub of the genus Melianthus, a native of the Cape of Good Hope. The flowers yield much honey. Honey guide (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of small birds of the family Indicatorid[ae], inhabiting Africa and the East Indies. They have the habit of leading persons to the nests to wild bees. Called also honeybird, and indicator. Honey harvest, the gathering of honey from hives, or the honey which is gathered. --Dryden. Honey kite. (Zo["o]l.) See Honey buzzard (above). Honey locust (Bot.), a North American tree (Gleditschia triacanthos), armed with thorns, and having long pods with a sweet pulp between the seeds. Honey month. Same as Honeymoon. Honey weasel (Zo["o]l.), the ratel.
Horse" pow`er\ 1. The power which a horse exerts. 2. (Mach.) A unit of power, used in stating the power required to drive machinery, and in estimating the capabilities of animals or steam engines and other prime movers for doing work. It is the power required for the performance of work at the rate of 33,000 English units of work per minute; hence, it is the power that must be exerted in lifting 33,000 pounds at the rate of one foot per minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, or 55 pounds at the rate of ten feet per second, etc. Note: The power of a draught horse, of average strength, working eight hours per day, is about four fifths of a standard horse power. Brake horse power, the net effective power of a prime mover, as a steam engine, water wheel, etc., in horse powers, as shown by a friction brake. See Friction brake, under Friction. Indicated horse power, the power exerted in the cylinder of an engine, stated in horse powers, estimated from the diameter and speed of the piston, and the mean effective pressure upon it as shown by an indicator. See Indicator. Nominal horse power (Steam Engine), a term still sometimes used in England to express certain proportions of cylinder, but having no value as a standard of measurement. 3. A machine worked by a horse, for driving other machinery; a horse motor.
In"di*ca`tor\ ([i^]n"d[i^]*k[=a]`t[~e]r), n. [L.: cf. F. indicateur.]1. One who, or that which, shows or points out; as, a fare indicator in a street car. 2. (Mach.) A pressure gauge; a water gauge, as for a steam boiler; an apparatus or instrument for showing the working of a machine or moving part; as: (a) (Steam Engine) An instrument which draws a diagram showing the varying pressure in the cylinder of an engine or pump at every point of the stroke. It consists of a small cylinder communicating with the engine cylinder and fitted with a piston which the varying pressure drives upward more or less against the resistance of a spring. A lever imparts motion to a pencil which traces the diagram on a card wrapped around a vertical drum which is turned back and forth by a string connected with the piston rod of the engine. See Indicator card (below). (b) A telltale connected with a hoisting machine, to show, at the surface, the position of the cage in the shaft of a mine, etc. 3. (Mech.) The part of an instrument by which an effect is indicated, as an index or pointer. 4. (Zo["o]l.) Any bird of the genus Indicator and allied genera. See Honey guide, under Honey. 5. (Chem.) That which indicates the condition of acidity, alkalinity, or the deficiency, excess, or sufficiency of a standard reagent, by causing an appearance, disappearance, or change of color, as in titration or volumetric analysis. Note: The common indicators are litmus, trop[ae]olin, phenol phthalein, potassic permanganate, etc. Indicator card, the figure drawn by an engine indicator, by means of which the working of the engine can be investigated and its power calculated. The Illustration shows one form of indicator card, from a steam engine, together with scales by which the pressure of the steam above or below that of the atmosphere, corresponding to any position of the engine piston in its stroke, can be measured. Called also indicator diagram. Indicator telegraph, a telegraph in which the signals are the deflections of a magnetic needle, as in the trans-Atlantic system.
In"di*ca`tor\ ([i^]n"d[i^]*k[=a]`t[~e]r), n. [L.: cf. F. indicateur.]1. One who, or that which, shows or points out; as, a fare indicator in a street car. 2. (Mach.) A pressure gauge; a water gauge, as for a steam boiler; an apparatus or instrument for showing the working of a machine or moving part; as: (a) (Steam Engine) An instrument which draws a diagram showing the varying pressure in the cylinder of an engine or pump at every point of the stroke. It consists of a small cylinder communicating with the engine cylinder and fitted with a piston which the varying pressure drives upward more or less against the resistance of a spring. A lever imparts motion to a pencil which traces the diagram on a card wrapped around a vertical drum which is turned back and forth by a string connected with the piston rod of the engine. See Indicator card (below). (b) A telltale connected with a hoisting machine, to show, at the surface, the position of the cage in the shaft of a mine, etc. 3. (Mech.) The part of an instrument by which an effect is indicated, as an index or pointer. 4. (Zo["o]l.) Any bird of the genus Indicator and allied genera. See Honey guide, under Honey. 5. (Chem.) That which indicates the condition of acidity, alkalinity, or the deficiency, excess, or sufficiency of a standard reagent, by causing an appearance, disappearance, or change of color, as in titration or volumetric analysis. Note: The common indicators are litmus, trop[ae]olin, phenol phthalein, potassic permanganate, etc. Indicator card, the figure drawn by an engine indicator, by means of which the working of the engine can be investigated and its power calculated. The Illustration shows one form of indicator card, from a steam engine, together with scales by which the pressure of the steam above or below that of the atmosphere, corresponding to any position of the engine piston in its stroke, can be measured. Called also indicator diagram. Indicator telegraph, a telegraph in which the signals are the deflections of a magnetic needle, as in the trans-Atlantic system.
Tel"e*graph\, n. [Gr. ? far, far off (cf. Lith. toli) + -graph: cf. F. t['e]l['e]graphe. See Graphic.] An apparatus, or a process, for communicating intelligence rapidly between distant points, especially by means of preconcerted visible or audible signals representing words or ideas, or by means of words and signs, transmitted by electrical action. Note: The instruments used are classed as indicator, type-printing, symbol-printing, or chemical-printing telegraphs, according as the intelligence is given by the movements of a pointer or indicator, as in Cooke & Wheatstone's (the form commonly used in England), or by impressing, on a fillet of paper, letters from types, as in House's and Hughe's, or dots and marks from a sharp point moved by a magnet, as in Morse's, or symbols produced by electro-chemical action, as in Bain's. In the offices in the United States the recording instrument is now little used, the receiving operator reading by ear the combinations of long and short intervals of sound produced by the armature of an electro-magnet as it is put in motion by the opening and breaking of the circuit, which motion, in registering instruments, traces upon a ribbon of paper the lines and dots used to represent the letters of the alphabet. See Illustration in Appendix. Acoustic telegraph. See under Acoustic. Dial telegraph, a telegraph in which letters of the alphabet and numbers or other symbols are placed upon the border of a circular dial plate at each station, the apparatus being so arranged that the needle or index of the dial at the receiving station accurately copies the movements of that at the sending station. Electric telegraph, or Electro-magnetic telegraph, a telegraph in which an operator at one station causes words or signs to be made at another by means of a current of electricity, generated by a battery and transmitted over an intervening wire. Facsimile telegraph. See under Facsimile. Indicator telegraph. See under Indicator. Pan-telegraph, an electric telegraph by means of which a drawing or writing, as an autographic message, may be exactly reproduced at a distant station. Printing telegraph, an electric telegraph which automatically prints the message as it is received at a distant station, in letters, not signs. Signal telegraph, a telegraph in which preconcerted signals, made by a machine, or otherwise, at one station, are seen or heard and interpreted at another; a semaphore. Submarine telegraph cable, a telegraph cable laid under water to connect stations separated by a body of water. Telegraph cable, a telegraphic cable consisting of several conducting wires, inclosed by an insulating and protecting material, so as to bring the wires into compact compass for use on poles, or to form a strong cable impervious to water, to be laid under ground, as in a town or city, or under water, as in the ocean. Telegraph plant (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Desmodium gyrans) native of the East Indies. The leaflets move up and down like the signals of a semaphore.