index
in
ˈɪn
in
dex
dɛks
deks
British pronunciation
/ˈɪndɛks/

Definition & Meaning of "index"in English

Index
01

the finger adjacent to the thumb, commonly used for pointing

index definition and meaning
example
Examples
She wore a ring on her index finger.
The doctor examined a cut on his index.
02

a system that provides the amount of prices, costs, etc. so that one can compare them with their previous value

example
Examples
The Consumer Price Index ( CPI ) is used to measure inflation by comparing current prices to those of a base year.
Investors closely monitor the stock market index to gauge the overall performance of the market.
03

an alphabetical listing of topics, names, or terms with references to their locations, typically in a book or document

What is an "index"?

An index is a list of key terms, subjects, or topics mentioned in a book, usually found at the end. It is organized alphabetically and provides page numbers where each item can be found within the text. The index helps readers quickly locate specific information or topics in the book, making it easier to navigate large or detailed works. It is commonly used in nonfiction books, academic texts, and reference materials.

example
Examples
The book includes an index for quick reference.
She looked up the topic in the index.
04

a value or ratio derived from observed data that reveals relative changes over time or between items

example
Examples
The industrial production index rose last month.
The energy consumption index fluctuated seasonally.
05

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

example
Examples
In the equation x², 2 is the index.
The index tells how many times the base is used as a factor.
to index
01

to systematically organize and list items for easy reference or retrieval

Transitive: to index records or documents
to index definition and meaning
example
Examples
They indexed the books in the library according to the Dewey Decimal System.
She indexed the research articles by author name for efficient searching.
02

to adjust wages, prices, or other economic variables according to an index

Transitive: to index prices or wages to an economic factor
example
Examples
The government decided to index the minimum wage to inflation.
The company indexed its employees' salaries to the consumer price index.
03

to create or add an index to a document, collection, or system

Transitive: to index a document or book
example
Examples
The librarian indexed the new books so students could find them quickly.
She indexed the research articles to help her locate key findings more easily.
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