I. ˈin-ˌdeks noun
( plural in·dex·es or in·di·ces -də-ˌsēz)
Etymology: Latin indic-, index, from indicare to indicate
Date: 1561
1.
a. : a device (as the pointer on a scale or the gnomon of a sundial) that serves to indicate a value or quantity
b. : something (as a physical feature or a mode of expression) that leads one to a particular fact or conclusion : indication
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): as
a. : a list of items (as topics or names) treated in a printed work that gives for each item the page number where it may be found
b. : thumb index
c. : a bibliographical analysis of groups of publications that is usually published periodically
d. : a list of publicly traded companies and their stock prices
3. : a list of restricted or prohibited material ; specifically capitalized : a formerly published list of books the reading of which was prohibited or restricted for Roman Catholics by the church authorities
4. plural usually indices : a number or symbol or expression (as an exponent) associated with another to indicate a mathematical operation to be performed or to indicate use or position in an arrangement
3 is the index of the expression ∛5 to indicate the cube root of 5
5. : a character ☞ used to direct attention to a note or paragraph — called also fist
6.
a. : a number (as a ratio) derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure ; specifically : index number
b. : the ratio of one dimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension
II. verb
Date: 1720
transitive verb
1.
a. : to provide with an index
b. : to list in an index
all persons and places mentioned are carefully index ed
2. : to serve as an index of
3. : to regulate (as wages, prices, or interest rates) by indexation
intransitive verb
: to index something
• in·dex·er noun