card index

noun

a file or catalog consisting of cards on which information has been entered so that desired items or data can be readily found.

Origin of card index

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Words Nearby card index

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use card index in a sentence

Fig. 32 shows an outside cabinet, card index, and vertical file units, which fit the openings in the cabinet.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 1 | Various
This cabinet contains vertical file, card index, legal blank drawers, and document files.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 1 | Various
In the author's laboratory these data are entered upon a pink card which forms part of a card index system.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique | John William Henry Eyre
At least, he knew what had gone into the fire: Arnold Rivers's card-index purchase and sales record.
Murder in the Gunroom | Henry Beam Piper
First of all he procured a card-index box capable of holding about a thousand cards.
The Book-Hunter at Home | P. B. M. Allan

British Dictionary definitions for card index

card index

noun

an index in which each item is separately listed on systematically arranged cards

verbcard-index

(tr) to make such an index of (a book)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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