26984 words

index

16 definitions • 24 examples
1
an alphabetical list, such as one printed at the back of a book showing which page a subject, name, etc. is on:

Examples:

in the index Try looking up "heart disease" in the index.
2
a collection of information stored on a computer or on a set of cards, in alphabetical order:

Examples:

on a card index He still has all his friends' names and addresses on a card index.
3
a system of numbers used for comparing values of things that change according to each other or a fixed standard:

Examples:

the FTSE 100 Index
the Dow Jones Index
a wage/price index
4
something that shows how strong or common a condition or feeling is:

Examples:

index of Consumer spending is often a good index of public confidence in the economy.
5
to prepare an index for a book or collection, or arrange it in an index:

Examples:

Our computer indexes several thousand new records every second.
The book contains a lot of information, but it's not very well indexed.
6
to change a system of numbers according to each other or a fixed standard:

Examples:

be indexed to/in line with Living expenses will be indexed to/in line with inflation (= to take inflation into consideration).
7
an alphabetical list, such as one printed at the back of a book showing on which page a name or subject appears, or computer information ordered in a particular way:

Examples:

If you want to find the place in the text that Henry James is mentioned, look it up in the index.
8
a number used to show the value of something by comparing it to something else whose value is known:

Examples:

a wage/price index
fig. The rate of consumer spending is often thought to be an index of public confidence (= show the state of the public’s confidence) in the health of the economy.
9
to prepare an index for a book, or to arrange information in an index:

Examples:

He organized and indexed the material by computer.
10
to vary a system of numbers against another or against a fixed standard:

Examples:

Social Security payments are indexed to (= adjusted to allow for) inflation every year.
11
a system that measures the present value of something when compared to its previous value or a fixed standard:

Examples:

The house price index estimates the change in the value of the nation's housing stock.
a bond/share/stock index
an index of sth The fund tracks an index of the UK's top 350 UK shares.
12
a sign or measure of something:

Examples:

an index of sth Unemployment levels provide a useful index of the state of the economy.
13
an alphabetical list that shows you where information is found in a book, on a website, etc.:

Examples:

a searcheable index
online indexes to articles and reports
14

Examples:

I keep an index of all my clients' contact details.
15
to connect the value of a price or payment to the value of something else such as the rate of inflation:

Examples:

be indexed to sth The pension is indexed to earnings.
The unions are demanding wage rises indexed to prices.
16
to provide a book or website with an index:

Examples:

All content held in the site is fully indexed.

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