[ˈɪndɛks], (Noun)

Definitions:
- (in a book or set of books) an alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc. with reference to the pages on which they are mentioned
(e.g: clear cross references supplemented by a thorough index)

- a sign or measure of something
(e.g: exam results may serve as an index of the teacher's effectiveness)

- an exponent or other superscript or subscript number appended to a quantity

- a pointer on an instrument, showing a quantity, a position on a scale, etc.


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin index, indic- ‘forefinger, informer, sign’, from in- ‘towards’ + a second element related to dicere ‘say’ or dicare ‘make known’; compare with indicate. The original sense ‘index finger’ (with which one points), came to mean ‘pointer’ (late 16th century), and figuratively something that serves to point to a fact or conclusion; hence a list of topics in a book (‘pointing’ to their location)

[ˈɪndɛks], (Verb)

Definitions:
- record (names, subjects, etc.) in an index
(e.g: the list indexes theses under regional headings)

- link the value of (prices, wages, or other payments) automatically to the value of a price index
(e.g: the Supreme Soviet passed legislation indexing wages to prices)

- (of a machine or part of one) move from one predetermined position to another in order to carry out a sequence of operations
(e.g: the pins are retracted and indexed to occupy an adjacent slotted position)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin index, indic- ‘forefinger, informer, sign’, from in- ‘towards’ + a second element related to dicere ‘say’ or dicare ‘make known’; compare with indicate. The original sense ‘index finger’ (with which one points), came to mean ‘pointer’ (late 16th century), and figuratively something that serves to point to a fact or conclusion; hence a list of topics in a book (‘pointing’ to their location)