array

[ uh-rey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to place in proper or desired order; marshal:

   Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle.

   Synonyms: dispose, order, range, arrange

2. to clothe with garments, especially of an ornamental kind; dress up; deck out:

   She arrayed herself in furs and diamonds.

   Synonyms: decorate, adorn, ornament, attire, dress, apparel

noun

1. order or arrangement, as of troops drawn up for battle.

   Synonyms: disposition

2. military force, especially a body of troops.
3. a large and impressive grouping or organization of things:

   He couldn't dismiss the array of facts.

   Synonyms: exhibition, exhibit, show

4. regular order or arrangement; series:

   an array of figures.

5. a large group, number, or quantity of people or things:

   an impressive array of scholars; an imposing array of books.

6. attire; dress:

   in fine array.

   Synonyms: raiment

7. an arrangement of interrelated objects or items of equipment for accomplishing a particular task:

   thousands of solar cells in one vast array.

8. Mathematics, Statistics.
   1. an arrangement of a series of terms according to value, as from largest to smallest.
   2. an arrangement of a series of terms in some geometric pattern, as in a matrix.
9. Computers. a block of related data elements, each of which is usually identified by one or more subscripts.
10. Radio. antenna array.

array

/ əˈreɪ /

noun

1. an impressive display or collection
2. an orderly or regular arrangement, esp of troops in battle order
3. poetic.
   rich clothing; apparel
4. maths a sequence of numbers or symbols in a specified order
5. maths a set of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns, as in a determinant or matrix
6. electronics an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics, used esp in radar
7. law a panel of jurors
8. the arming of military forces
9. computing a regular data structure in which individual elements may be located by reference to one or more integer index variables, the number of such indices being the number of dimensions in the array

verb

1. to dress in rich attire; adorn
2. to arrange in order (esp troops for battle); marshal
3. law to draw up (a panel of jurors)

array

/ ə-rā′ /

1. Mathematics.
   A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.
2. Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.

Derived Forms

• arˈrayal, noun

Other Words From

• ar·rayer noun
• unar·rayed adjective
• well-ar·rayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of array¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English arrayen, from Anglo-French arayer, Old French are(y)er, from Germanic; compare Old English ārǣdan “to prepare,” equivalent to ā- a- ³ + ræde “prompt”

Word History and Origins

Origin of array¹

C13: from Old French aroi arrangement, from arayer to arrange, of Germanic origin; compare Old English arǣdan to make ready

Example Sentences

Cher grew up with a rootless backdrop that included her mother’s ever-shifting array of husbands, all the while traveling, nomad-like, from one place to another with stints in Pennsylvania, Texas, California and New York.

From Salon

Its owner, Chelsea Event & Entertainment Ltd, said the police report contained "a vast array of factual inaccuracies" and that it would not comment further until after a licensing meeting set to take place on Monday.

From BBC

Organisms are constantly taking in an array of sensory information about the environment that is changing from one moment to the next.

From Science Daily

The researchers found that their technique was between five and 50 times more efficient than standard approaches on an array of simulated tasks.

From Science Daily

Youn and colleagues arranged their seven insulating rods in a kirigami-inspired hexagonal array that, with the turn of a gear, would expand to change the frequency of the higher mode.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• batch
• bunch
• bundle
• cluster
• design
• display
• host
• lineup
• lot
• multitude
• pattern
• supply