indicator English · revision 14951

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1666|origins=la indicō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪ.tə/, US /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪ.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|indicātor]], an agent noun from [[la|indicō|t=to point out, show]] (see [[indicate]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ That which indicates or suggests something: 1666 in the OED and Merriam-Webster, the 1660s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The muscle that extends the forefinger is the indicator from 1696.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A steam cylinder's pressure gauge is from 1839,^(Etymonline) and in chemistry a substance that shows the state of a solution from 1842–3.^(OED 1989) In geology an indicator was a clue to the presence of gold (1894), and in ecology a group of species whose presence signals particular conditions (1906).^(OED 1989) A device on a vehicle signalling a turn is from 1932.^(Etymonline) In Northumberland and Durham mines an indicator showed the brakesman where the cage was in the shaft.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1666 – that which indicates.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1696 – the forefinger muscle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1839 – a pressure gauge.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1842–3 – an indicator (chemistry).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1932 – a vehicle's indicator.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that indicates something, especially a trend: ''economic indicators''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pointer, gauge or meter showing the condition of a machine or system.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' A substance that shows by its colour the state of a solution, such as whether it is acid or alkaline.^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(British)'' A flashing light on a vehicle signalling that it is about to turn.^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(ecology)'' A species whose presence indicates particular conditions.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indicatory]]

+ * [[acid-base indicator]]

+ * [[airspeed indicator]]

+ * [[bank-and-turn indicator]]

+ * [[coincident indicator]]

+ * [[rate-of-climb indicator]]

+ * [[turn-and-bank indicator]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[index]]

+ * [[indicate]]

+ * [[indication]]

+ * [[indicative]]

+ * [[indict]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}