Indices

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɪndɪsiːz/

Definitions

1. A compilation of indicators or figures that demonstrate correlations and trends within data sets; Numerical representations that help illustrate relationships or comparisons in various fields of research; Symbols employed to denote specific values or positions in statistical and analytical contexts
2. A series of numbers or positions used to specify locations or elements ; a collection of numerical data points used to show relationships or patterns in analysis
3. An ordered set of references indicating places or items in a sequence ; a group of numerical symbols representing data for comparison or study

Etymology: "Indices" is the plural of "index," and the English word is borrowed from Latin "indicēs," the plural of "index," which meant "informer," "forefinger," or "sign." The Latin root "indicare," "to point out," gives the sense of something that points the way to information. The plural form has come to dominate in technical use, where economists and statisticians speak of "indices" for numerical measures such as price or stock indexes, while mathematicians still use it for the exponents of powers and for subscripts. Writers and scholars who prefer Latin plurals keep the form alive, while many others now use "indexes" in ordinary speech.

Synonyms: indexes, indicators, signs, measures