Reference vs Index - What's the difference?
reference | index |
A relationship or relation ((to) something).
*, III.1.3:
A measurement one can compare to.
Information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted
A reference work.
(semantics) A relation between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object.
(academic writing) A short written identification of a previously published work which is used as a source for a text.
(academic writing) A previously published written work thus indicated; a source.
(programming) An object containing information which refers to data stored elsewhere, as opposed to containing the data itself.
(programming, character entity) A special sequence used to represent complex characters in a web page such as ™ or €.
(obsolete) appeal
* Shakespeare
to refer to, to make reference to, to cite
to mention
An alphabetical listing of items and their location.
The index finger; the forefinger.
A movable finger on a gauge, scale, etc.
(printing) A symbol resembling a pointing hand, used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph.
That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses.
* Arbuthnot
A sign; an indication; a token.
* Robert Louis Stevenson
(linguistics) A type of noun where the meaning of the form changes with respect to the context. E.g., 'Today's newspaper' is an indexical form since its referent will differ depending on the context. See also icon and symbol.
(economics) A single number calculated from an array of prices or of quantities.
(science) A number representing a property or ratio, a coefficient.
(mathematics) A raised suffix indicating a power.
(programming, computing) An integer or other key indicating the location of data e.g. within an array, vector, database table, associative array, or hash table.
(computing, databases) A data structure that improves the performance of operations on a table.
(obsolete) A prologue indicating what follows.
To arrange an index for something, especially a long text.
To inventory, to take stock.
In obsolete terms the difference between reference and index
is that reference is appeal while index is a prologue indicating what follows.As nouns the difference between reference and index
is that reference is a relationship or relation ({{term|to}} something) while index is an alphabetical listing of items and their location.As verbs the difference between reference and index
is that reference is to refer to, to make reference to, to cite while index is to arrange an index for something, especially a long text.As a proper noun Index is
a town in Washington.reference
English
Noun
(en noun)- all these are far more eminent and great, when they shall proceed from a sanctified spirit, that hath a true touch of religion and a reference to God.
- Make your full reference .
Derived terms
* * * * * * * *See also
* senseVerb
(referenc)- Reference the dictionary for word meanings.
Usage notes
* Some authorities object to the use of reference as a verb, preferring "refer to" or "cite".External links
* * English transitive verbsindex
English
(wikipedia index)Noun
(en-noun)- The index of a book lists words or expressions and the pages of the book upon which they are to be found.
- Tastes are the indexes of the different qualities of plants.
- His son's empty guffaws struck him with pain as the indices of a weak mind.
- (Shakespeare)