# array

Pronunciation: say "uh-RAY" US /əˈɹeɪ/, AUS /əˈɹæɪ/

## Noun

1. A large collection of things assembled or brought together.
   - Simple: A very large group of things gathered together in one place.
   - _The museum displayed a dazzling array of ancient artifacts._
   - _Investors now face a bewildering array of financial products._
2. An orderly series, arrangement, or sequence of things.
   - Simple: A set of things placed neatly in a line or order.
   - _The solar panels were installed in a precise array facing south._
   - _Stars appeared in a stunning array across the night sky._
3. A collection laid out so that it can be viewed in full.
   - Simple: A group of things spread out so people can see them all.
   - _The gallery presented an array of paintings spanning three centuries._
   - _The market stall offered an array of fresh vegetables for shoppers to inspect._
4. A data structure that holds multiple elements of the same type, typically in adjacent memory locations so each can be retrieved by a numeric index.
   - Simple: A way computers store many items of the same kind, each found by its own number.
   - _The function loops through the array and adds up every value._
   - _Reaching the tenth element of an array takes the same time as reaching the first._
6. A rectangular arrangement of numbers in rows and columns; a matrix.
   - Simple: In math, a grid of numbers set out in rows and columns.
   - _Multiplying the two arrays requires their dimensions to match._
   - _Each entry in the array corresponds to a particular row and column._
8. Clothing and ornamentation; fine attire or raiment.
   - Simple: Fine clothes and decorations that someone wears.
   - _The king's array glittered with gold thread and gemstones._
   - _Pilgrims arrived in their finest array for the ceremony._
9. A regular and imposing arrangement in ordered lines; an order of battle.
   - Simple: Soldiers or things set out in neat, impressive lines, ready for action.
   - _The legions advanced in tight array across the plain._
   - _The fleet assembled in array before the battle began._
10. A militia; a body of citizens called out for military service.
   - Simple: A group of ordinary people called up to fight as soldiers.
   - _The county's array mustered at the river crossing._
   - _The king summoned the array of three shires to repel the invaders._
11. The setting forth in order of jurors summoned for a case by the proper officer; the panel itself, or the whole body of jurors called to attend the court.
   - Simple: The full list of people called to serve on a jury for a trial.
   - _Defense counsel challenged the array, alleging bias in how the jurors were chosen._
   - _The sheriff returned the array to the court on the morning of the trial._
13. A microarray; a small grid of many tiny probe spots used to detect genes, proteins, or other targets all at once.
   - Simple: A small lab tool with many tiny spots used to test many genes at once.
   - _The lab printed a custom array to screen for the mutation._
   - _Each spot on the array binds a specific DNA sequence._
14. A group of hedgehogs considered collectively.
   - Simple: A group of hedgehogs gathered together in one place.
   - _An array of hedgehogs had made a home beneath the old shed._
   - _The naturalist counted an array of hedgehogs foraging in the moonlight._

## Verb

5. To set out people or things in order, especially to position troops or forces for action.
   - Simple: To put things in a neat, ordered way.
   - _The commander arrayed his forces across the valley at dawn._
   - _Curators array the exhibits to guide visitors through the story._
7. To dress and adorn someone, especially with fine clothing and ornaments.
   - Simple: To dress someone in fine clothes and decorations.
   - _The bride was arrayed in white lace and pearls._
   - _Attendants array the king in his ceremonial robes before the coronation._
12. To set jurors in order for the trial of a cause by calling them one at a time.
   - Simple: To call jurors one by one and put them in order for a trial.
   - _The sheriff arrayed the panel as the judge looked on._
   - _Court officers array the jurors in the order their names were drawn._

## Origin

From Middle English arrayen, from Anglo-Norman arraier ('to put in order'), from Medieval Latin arrēdō ('to arrange, array'). This traces back to Frankish or Gothic roots and ultimately Proto-Germanic *raidaz ('ready'), making it a doublet of 'ready.'

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/array (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).