index

1. 1.

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

   Broaderscale

   Narrowermargin of safety
2. 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

   Synonymsindex numberindicantindicator

   Broaderfact

   Narrowerbody mass indexbusiness indexleading indicatorprice indexshort accountstock index
3. 3.

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

   Synonymsexponentpower

   Broadermathematical notation

   Narrowerdegreelogarithm
4. 4.

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

   Broaderlist

   Narrowerconcordance

   Part ofback matter

   Partskey word
5. 5.

   the finger next to the thumb

   Synonymsindex fingerforefinger

   Broaderfinger

1. 1.

   list in an index

   Broaderlist

   Narrowercross-index
2. 2.

   provide with an index

   “index the book”

   Broadersupply

   publication

3. 3.

   adjust through indexation

   “The government indexes wages and prices”

   Broaderdetermine

Other forms of index

plural

indices

past tense

indexed·

present participle

indexing·

third person

indexes·

Forms marked · are formed by the regular rule rather than recorded in the source data. English keeps a few hundred irregulars and the rest follow the pattern, so the rule is right far more often than not — but it is a rule, and the mark says so.

Questions about index

What does index mean?

index means "a numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number". That is the primary sense; the word has 8 in total, listed in full on this page.

How many syllables are in index?

index has 2 syllables: in-dex. The stress falls on "in". In IPA it is /ˈɪndɛks/.

What is another word for index?

Close synonyms include index number, indicant, indicator, exponent, power. Each sense on this page lists its own synonyms, because a word with several meanings rarely has one substitute that works for all of them.

Is index a common word?

index is banded "Familiar" — widely understood, used when the subject calls for it. The band comes from how often the word appears in a large corpus of everyday English, not from an editor's impression.