Word

array

noun C1

/əˈɹeɪ/

Meanings

noun

an ordered list of elements stored together, especially in computer programming

noun

a large or impressive group or range of people or things

Definition

An array is an ordered set of items, often stored and accessed as a single unit.

An array is a structure that holds multiple values in a specific order. In computing and mathematics, the items are usually of the same type and can be accessed by their position (index). Arrays make it easier to store, process, and iterate through collections of data efficiently.

Examples

To speed up the search, I stored the values in an array and looked them up by index.
During the debate, she presented an array of examples that made her argument hard to dismiss.
The engineer realized that the array needed to be sorted before the next step could run correctly.
In the gallery, they admired an array of paintings spanning different styles and periods.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse array with a simple list and forget that an array is typically ordered and accessed by index in programming contexts.