index

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 [syn: index number, indicant, indicator]

3 a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself [syn: exponent, power]

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

5 the finger next to the thumb [syn: index finger, forefinger]

1 list in an index

2 provide with an index; "index the book"

3 adjust through indexation; "The government indexes wages and prices" [also: indices (pl)]indices See index

English

Noun

indices

1. Plural of index|nodot=1 when used in the sense of a key to locate an element in a list, vector or matrix in computing or mathematics.

   The subscript numbers after each element are the indices of that element.

   A common convention in computing is to have indices beginning at zero, whereas in mathematics indices usually begin at one.

Note: when referring to a directory listing, the plural indexes should be used.

An index is a system used to make finding information easier.

Index may also refer to:

• Index (publishing), a detailed list, usually arranged alphabetically, of the specific information in a publication
• Index cards in a rolodex or old library card catalog, early and mid 20th century technologies for maintaining such lists
• Index (mathematics), for various meanings of the word in mathematics
• Index (economics), a single number calculated from an array of prices and quantities.
• Index, Washington, a town in Snohomish County, Washington, United States
• Index, New York, a hamlet in the County and Town of Otsego, New York, United States
• Index (typography), a largely obsolete punctuation mark
• Indexing (motion), a kind of motion in many areas of mechanical engineering and machining

In publications:

• Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a list of publications which the Catholic Church censored
• Germany's List of Media Harmful to Young People, colloquially known as The Index, published by the Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien
• Index Magazine, was a prominent New York City based publication for art and culture
• Truman State University Index, the weekly student newspaper
• The Index, the student newspaper of Kalamazoo College, published since 1877
• The Index (journal), a European propaganda journal created by Henry Hotze to support the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War

In computers and information retrieval:

• Index (database), a feature in a computerized database which allows quick access to the rows in a table
• Index (information technology), either an integer which identifies an array element, or a data structure which enables fast lookup
• Index (search engine), for supporting information retrieval in search engines
• Webserver directory index, a default or index web page in a directory on a web server, such as index.html
• Subject indexing, describing the content of a document by keywords
• BitTorrent index, a list of .torrent files available for searches

Other:

• The Index, an item on the Halo (megastructure) in the Halo series of video games
• The Index (Dubai), a tower under construction in Dubai
• Index (retailer), a defunct UK catalogue retailer formerly owned by the Littlewoods group and known as Littlewoods Index
• Index finger, the second digit of a human hand
• Index fund, a collective investment scheme
• Indexicality, in linguistics, the variation of meaning of an utterance according to certain features of the context in which it is uttered