array

An array is a display of something — usually something varied. You might encounter an array of cereal brands in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. Your head says to choose the Crunchy Oats 'n' Bran, but your heart wants the Sugar-Coated Chocopuffs.

Although the word array comes from the Old French areyer, "to put in order," an array often just comes together. It can be an intentional design of people or features — everything from software packages to fashion shows can have an "impressive array" of components. Or, an array can fall together in nature or by chance: "the clouds became an array of beautiful shapes after the storm."

Definitions of array
  1. noun
    an impressive display
    “it was a bewildering array of books”
    “his tools were in an orderly array on the basement wall”
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    type of:
    display
    exhibiting openly in public view
  2. noun
    especially fine or decorative clothing
    synonyms: raiment, regalia
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    types:
    war paint
    full ceremonial regalia
    type of:
    article of clothing, clothing, habiliment, vesture, wear, wearable
    a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
  3. noun
    an orderly arrangement
    “an array of troops in battle order”
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    types:
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    table, tabular array
    a set of data arranged in rows and columns
    matrix
    (mathematics) a rectangular array of quantities or expressions set out by rows and columns; treated as a single element and manipulated according to rules
    row
    a linear array of numbers, letters, or symbols side by side
    column
    a vertical array of numbers or other information
    panoply
    a complete and impressive array
    bank
    an arrangement of similar objects in a row or in tiers
    spectrum
    an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave
    correlation matrix
    a matrix giving the correlations between all pairs of data sets
    correlation table
    a two-way tabulation of the relations between correlates; row headings are the scores on one variable and column headings are the scores on the second variables and a cell shows how many times the score on that row was associated with the score in that column
    contents, table of contents
    a list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start
    actuarial table, statistical table
    a table of statistical data
    calendar
    a tabular array of the days (usually for one year)
    file allocation table
    the part of a floppy disk or hard disk where information is stored about the location of each piece of information on the disk (and about the location of unusable areas of the disk)
    periodic table
    (chemistry) a tabular arrangement of the chemical elements according to atomic number as based on the periodic law
    dot matrix
    a rectangular matrix of dots from which written characters can be formed
    square matrix
    a matrix with the same number of rows and columns
    real matrix
    a matrix whose elements are all real numbers
    transpose
    a matrix formed by interchanging the rows and columns of a given matrix
    absorption spectrum
    the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that has passed through a medium that absorbed radiation of certain wavelengths
    action spectrum
    the efficiency with which electromagnetic radiation produces a photochemical reaction plotted as a function of the wavelength of the radiation
    atomic spectrum
    (physics) a spectrum of radiation caused by electron transitions within an atom; the series of spectrum lines is characteristic of the element
    electromagnetic spectrum
    the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves
    emission spectrum
    spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a self-luminous source
    infrared spectrum
    the spectrum of infrared radiation
    line spectrum
    a spectrum in which energy is concentrated at particular wavelengths; produced by excited atoms and ions as they fall back to a lower energy level
    mass spectrum
    a distribution of ions as shown by a mass spectrograph or a mass spectrometer
    microwave spectrum
    the part of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to microwaves
    radio spectrum, radio-frequency spectrum
    the entire spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies used for communications; includes frequencies used for radio and radar and television
    acoustic spectrum, sound spectrum
    the distribution of energy as a function of frequency for a particular sound source
    ultraviolet spectrum
    the spectrum of ultraviolet radiation
    color spectrum, visible spectrum
    the distribution of colors produced when light is dispersed by a prism
    type of:
    arrangement
    an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging
  4. noun
    an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics
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    type of:
    directional antenna
    an antenna that transmits or receives signals only in a narrow angle
  5. verb
    lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line
    synonyms: lay out, range, set out
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    types:
    compart
    lay out in parts according to a plan
    type of:
    arrange, set up
    put into a proper or systematic order
  6. verb
    align oneself with a group or a way of thinking
    synonyms: align
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    types:
    fall in line
    agree on (a position)
    side
    take sides for or against
    pull, root for
    take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for
    type of:
    stand
    have or maintain a position or stand on an issue
Word Family