array
Americanverb (used with object)
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to place in proper or desired order; marshal.
Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle.
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to clothe with garments, especially of an ornamental kind; dress up; deck out.
She arrayed herself in furs and diamonds.
noun
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order or arrangement, as of troops drawn up for battle.
- Synonyms:
- disposition
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military force, especially a body of troops.
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a large and impressive grouping or organization of things.
He couldn't dismiss the array of facts.
- Synonyms:
- exhibition, exhibit, show
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regular order or arrangement; series.
an array of figures.
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a large group, number, or quantity of people or things.
an impressive array of scholars; an imposing array of books.
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attire; dress.
in fine array.
- Synonyms:
- raiment
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an arrangement of interrelated objects or items of equipment for accomplishing a particular task.
thousands of solar cells in one vast array.
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Mathematics, Statistics.
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an arrangement of a series of terms according to value, as from largest to smallest.
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an arrangement of a series of terms in some geometric pattern, as in a matrix.
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Computers. a block of related data elements, each of which is usually identified by one or more subscripts.
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Radio. antenna array.
noun
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an impressive display or collection
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an orderly or regular arrangement, esp of troops in battle order
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poetic rich clothing; apparel
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maths a sequence of numbers or symbols in a specified order
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maths a set of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns, as in a determinant or matrix
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electronics an arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics, used esp in radar
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law a panel of jurors
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the arming of military forces
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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
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to dress in rich attire; adorn
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to arrange in order (esp troops for battle); marshal
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law to draw up (a panel of jurors)
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Mathematics A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.
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Numerical data ordered in a linear fashion, by magnitude.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of array
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”
Explanation
An array is a display of something — usually something varied. You might encounter an array of cereal brands in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. Your head says to choose the Crunchy Oats 'n' Bran, but your heart wants the Sugar-Coated Chocopuffs. Although the word array comes from the Old French areyer, "to put in order," an array often just comes together. It can be an intentional design of people or features — everything from software packages to fashion shows can have an "impressive array" of components. Or, an array can fall together in nature or by chance: "the clouds became an array of beautiful shapes after the storm."
Vocabulary lists containing array
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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This Week in Words: December 9 - 15, 2017
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Megan is also a multimillion-dollar earner with an array of branding deals; on her Instagram feed right now are promotional crossovers with Popeyes and Cheetos.
From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026
Mali has fought a long-running conflict against a broad array of rebel groups for more than a decade.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
Led by Lamont scientist Suzanne Carbotte, with co-author Anne Bécel, the team sent sound waves into the seafloor and captured their echoes using a 15-kilometer-long array of underwater sensors.
From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2026
On Sunday afternoon, shoppers browsed for fishing poles and sifted through a wide array of camouflage hunting gear.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026
Hanging above the net was a tightwire and an array of trapeze equipment.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
