VocabDictionary

indexing

/ˈɪn.dɛk.sɪŋ/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

The system or process of compiling lists of items, names, subjects, or references and ordering them alphabetically or categorically for easy retrieval.

Example Sentences:
  • The publishing house hired a professional specializing in book indexing.
  • Effective indexing of the library archives made historical research much faster.
2.noun

In computing and search engines, the process of collecting, parsing, and storing data to facilitate fast and accurate information retrieval.

Example Sentences:
  • Web crawlers perform continuous indexing of new internet pages to keep search results up to date.
  • Database indexing significantly speeds up query execution times.
3.noun

In economics and finance, the practice of linking wages, prices, or interest rates to a price index to offset the effects of inflation.

Example Sentences:
  • Wage indexing helps protect employees' purchasing power during periods of high inflation.
  • The retirement fund relies on automatic indexing to adjust payouts annually.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “indexing”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the noun 'index' (from Latin 'index' meaning pointer, sign, or list, from 'indicare' to point out). The gerund/noun form 'indexing' emerged in the 19th century to describe the systematic creation of indexes for books, and expanded in the 20th century to economics (cost-of-living adjustments) and computer science (database organization and search engine cataloging).

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of an 'index' finger pointing to something in an organized list or catalog to remember what indexing does.

Frequently Asked Questions About “indexing

1. What is the meaning of “indexing” in English?

In English, indexing (noun) is defined as: “The system or process of compiling lists of items, names, subjects, or references and ordering them alphabetically or categorically for easy retrieval.”.

2. How do you use “indexing” in a sentence?

The publishing house hired a professional specializing in book indexing.

3. What are English synonyms of “indexing”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “indexing”?

Derived from the noun 'index' (from Latin 'index' meaning pointer, sign, or list, from 'indicare' to point out). The gerund/noun form 'indexing' emerged in the 19th century to describe the systematic creation of indexes for books, and expanded in the 20th century to economics (cost-of-living adjustments) and computer science (database organization and search engine cataloging).