- in|dex
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–n.1. a) a list of what is in a book, telling on what pages to find each thing. An index is usually put at the end of the book and arranged in alphabetical order. b) = card index. (Cf. ↑card index)2. a thing that points out or shows; a sign, token, or indication: »
(Figurative.) A person's face is often an index of his mood. (Figurative.) The State Constitutions…are…an index to the present tendencies of American democracy (James Bryce).
3. = index finger. (Cf. ↑index finger)4. a pointer. A dial or scale usually has an index.5. Printing. a sign, especially a fist with a pointing finger, used to point out a particular note, paragraph, or other part of a text; fist; hand.6. a) a number or formula expressing some property, relationship, ratio, or other characteristic, in science. b) a number that indicates the amount of business activity in relation to past levels of business activity: »the wholesale price index, the cost of living index. The weekly index is calculated as an estimated percentage change from the latest published monthly comprehensive index (Wall Street Journal).
8. Obsolete. a) a table of contents; summary: »Even as an index to a book, So to his mind was young Leander's look (Christopher Marlowe).
b) a preface; prologue.–v.t.1. to provide with an index; make an index of: »The author indexed his own book.
2. to enter in an index.3. to serve as an index of; indicate.4. to adjust (income, rates of interest, or other economic indicators) to price changes in goods and services as reflected by the cost-of-living index: »to index…pensions so that cost of living rises are compensated for at least once a year (London Guardian).
╂[< Latin index, -dicis forefinger, (originally) informer, anything which points out < indicāre point out, reveal < in- in, to + dīcere speak, say]–in´dex|er, noun.In|dex «IHN dehks», noun.1. = Index Expurgatorius. (Cf. ↑Index Expurgatorius)2. = Index Librorum Prohibitorum. (Cf. ↑Index Librorum Prohibitorum)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
