Index

Definition

An alphabetical list, such as one printed at the back of a book showing which page a subject, name, etc. can be found.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈɪndɛks/
• Respelling: IN-deks (with "IN" as in "tin" and "deks" as in "decks")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈɪndɛks/
• Respelling: IN-deks (with "IN" as in "tin" and "deks" as in "decks")

In both dialects, "index" places the primary stress on the first syllable, "IN." The pronunciation is the same across both American and British English, focusing on the clear articulation of "IN-deks."

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word "index" meaning "one that points out; indicator". Historically, it also meant "the forefinger".

Derivatives

• Indexing (noun, verb)
• Indexed (verb, past tense)
• Indices (plural noun)
• Indexer (noun)
• Indexical (adjective)

Synonyms

• Directory
• List
• Register

Antonyms

• Body
• Content
• Substance

Usage

"Index" is used to refer to a list of items, typically found at the end of a book, that helps readers locate specific information. It is also used in statistics and finance to refer to a measure that reflects the performance of a group of assets.

Related Terms

• Table of contents
• Catalog
• Reference
• Guide
• Indicator

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Index (Noun, Reference): An alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc., with references to the places where they occur, typically found at the end of a book.
  • Example: "The book's index helped me quickly find the information I needed."

• Index (Noun, Statistics): A statistical measure of changes in a representative group of individual data points.
  • Example: "The Consumer Price Index is used to measure inflation."

• Index (Noun, Finance): A measure of the performance of a group of stocks or other securities.
  • Example: "The S&P 500 index includes 500 of the largest companies in the U.S."

Verb

• Index (Verb): To enter items in an index.
  • Example: "The librarian indexed the new books in the catalogue."

• Index (Verb): To adjust or link to an index.
  • Example: "Wages were indexed to inflation."

Note: "Index" is commonly used in various fields like publishing, finance, and computer science, each with context-specific meanings.