INDEX (indices)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: indices   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does index mean? 

• INDEX (noun)
  The noun INDEX has 5 senses:

1. a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number

2. 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

3. a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself

4. an alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed

5. the finger next to the thumb

  Familiarity information: INDEX used as a noun is common.

• INDEX (verb)
  The verb INDEX has 3 senses:

1. list in an index

2. provide with an index

3. adjust through indexation

  Familiarity information: INDEX used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INDEX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Hypernyms ("index" is a kind of...):

graduated table; ordered series; scale; scale of measurement (an ordered reference standard)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "index"):

margin of error; margin of safety; safety margin (the margin required in order to insure safety)

Derivation:

index (adjust through indexation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

index; index number; indicant; indicator

Hypernyms ("index" is a kind of...):

fact (a statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "index"):

BMI; body mass index (a measure of someone's weight in relation to height; to calculate one's BMI, multiply one's weight in pounds and divide that by the square of one's height in inches; overweight is a BMI greater than 25; obese is a BMI greater than 30)

business index (a statistical compilation that provides a context for economic or financial conditions)

leading indicator (one of 11 indicators for different sections of the economy; used by the Department of Commerce to predict economic trends in the near future)

price index; price level (an index that traces the relative changes in the price of an individual good (or a market basket of goods) over time)

short account (the aggregate of short sales on an open market)

stock index; stock market index (index based on a statistical compilation of the share prices of a number of representative stocks)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

exponent; index; power

Hypernyms ("index" is a kind of...):

mathematical notation (a notation used by mathematicians)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "index"):

degree (the highest power of a term or variable)

log; logarithm (the exponent required to produce a given number)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("index" is a kind of...):

list; listing (a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics))

Meronyms (parts of "index"):

key word (a significant word used in indexing or cataloging)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "index"):

concordance (an index of all main words in a book along with their immediate contexts)

Holonyms ("index" is a part of...):

back matter; end matter (written matter following the main text of a book)

Derivation:

index (provide with an index)

index (list in an index)

indexical (of or relating to or serving as an index)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The finger next to the thumb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

forefinger; index; index finger

Hypernyms ("index" is a kind of...):

finger (any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb))

• INDEX (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they index    ... he / she / it indexes   
Past simple: indexed   
Past participle: indexed   
-ing form: indexing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

List in an index

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "index" is one way to...):

list (include in a list)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "index"):

cross-index (make an index that refers from one point to the next)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

index (an alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed)

indexer (someone who provides an index)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Provide with an index

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

index the book

Hypernyms (to "index" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Domain category:

publication; publishing (the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

index (an alphabetical listing of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed)

indexer (someone who provides an index)

indexing (the act of classifying and providing an index in order to make items easier to retrieve)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Adjust through indexation

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

The government indexes wages and prices

Hypernyms (to "index" is one way to...):

determine; influence; mold; regulate; shape (shape or influence; give direction to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

index (a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number)

indexation (a system of economic regulation: wages and interest are tied to the cost-of-living index in order to reduce the effects of inflation)

 Context examples 

Minutes times nanograms per milliliter (area under the curve), divided by kilograms per meter squared (body mass index).

(Minute Times Nanogram per Milliliter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle was based on four factors: non-smoker, diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish, not overweight or obese (body mass index less than 30), and regular physical exercise.

(A healthy lifestyle cuts stroke risk, irrespective of genetic risk, University of Cambridge)

The semiquantitative assessment of the wheal-and-flare index that measures the intensity of the reaction.

(Allergen Skin Response Intensity, NCI Thesaurus)

Minutes times moles per liter (area under the curve), divided by kilograms per meter squared (body mass index).

(Minute Times Mole per Liter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Minutes times millimoles per liter (area under the curve), divided by kilograms per meter squared (body mass index).

(Minute Times Millimole per Liter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

They also had higher depressive symptoms, total caloric intake, and index of sleep apnea.

(Study links irregular sleep patterns to metabolic disorders, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Minutes times nanomoles per liter (area under the curve), divided by kilograms per meter squared (body mass index).

(Minute Times Nanomole per Liter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The indexes reflect the movements of millions of birds of many species over large regions.

(Seasonality of bird migration responds to environmental cues, NSF)

The area under the urinary excretion rate curve (AURC) from time zero to the last measurable rate divided by the body mass index.

(AURC All Normalized by Body Mass Index, NCI Thesaurus)

Minutes times picomoles per liter (area under the curve), divided by kilograms per meter squared (body mass index).

(Minute Times Picomole per Liter per Kilogram per Meter Squared, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)