different between array vs quantity

English

Etymology

From Middle English arrayen, from Anglo-Norman arraier (compare Old French arraier, areer (“to put in order”)), from Medieval Latin arr?d? (“to put in order, arrange, array”), from *r?dum (“preparation, order”), from Frankish *reida (“preparation, order”) or Gothic ???????????????????????????? (garaiþs, “ready, prepared”), from Proto-Germanic *raidaz, *raidiz (“ready”). Doublet of ready.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???e?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /???e?/, /?æ.????/ (UK)
• Rhymes: -e?

Noun

array (countable and uncountable, plural arrays)

1. Clothing and ornamentation.
2. A collection laid out to be viewed in full.
3. An orderly series, arrangement or sequence.
   • 1856-1858, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip II

     But the chivalry of France was represented by as gallant an array of nobles and cavaliers as ever fought under the banner of the lilies

4. Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle.

   drawn up in battle array

   • wedged together in the closest array

5. A large collection.
   • 1814, Lord Byron, The Corsair

     their long array of sapphire and of gold

   We offer a dazzling array of choices.
6. (mathematics) Common name for matrix.
7. (programming) Any of various data structures designed to hold multiple elements of the same type; especially, a data structure that holds these elements in adjacent memory locations so that they may be retrieved using numeric indices.
8. (law) A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impanelled in a cause; the panel itself; or the whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court.
9. (military) A militia.
10. A group of hedgehogs.
11. A microarray.

Usage notes

• (any of various data structures): The exact usage of the term array, and of related terms, generally depends on the programming language. For example, many languages distinguish a fairly low-level "array" construct from a higher-level "list" or "vector" construct. Some languages distinguish between an "array" and a variety of "associative array"; others have only the latter concept, calling it an "array".

Antonyms

• (orderly series): disarray

Hyponyms

Related terms

Translations

References

See also

• (any of various data structures): ones-based indexing, zero-based indexing

Verb

array (third-person singular simple present arrays, present participle arraying, simple past and past participle arrayed)

1. To clothe and ornament; to adorn or attire.
2. To lay out in an orderly arrangement; to deploy or marshal.
3. (law) To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them one at a time.

Synonyms

• (to clothe and ornament): don, dress, put on; see also Thesaurus:clothe or Thesaurus:decorate

Translations

Portuguese

Etymology

From English array.

Noun

array m (plural arrays)

1. (programming) array (any of various data structures)

   Synonym: vetor

English

Etymology

From Middle English quantite, from Old French quantité, from Latin quantit?s (“quantity”), from quantus (“how much”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?kw?n.t?.ti/
• (General American) enPR: kw?n?(t)?t?, IPA^(key): /?kw?n(t)?ti/, [?k?w?n(?)??i], [?k?w?n(t?)?t?i]
  • Note: This is with a relaxed middle T, and is only used in colloquial contexts by many speakers.
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /?kw?nd?di/, /?kw?n???i/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /?kwæn.t?.ti/

Noun

quantity (countable and uncountable, plural quantities)

1. A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items.

2. An indefinite amount of something.

   Some soap making oils are best as base oils, used in a larger quantity in the soap, while other oils are best added in a small quantity.

3. A specific measured amount.

4. A considerable measure or amount.

5. (metrology) Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference.
6. (mathematics) Indicates that the entire preceding expression is henceforth considered a single object.
   • 2006, Jerome E. Kaufmann and Karen Schwitters, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach, p 89

     For problems 58-67, translate each word phrase into an algebraic expression. […] 65. x plus 9, the quantity squared

   • 2005, R. Mark Sirkin, Statistics For The Social Sciences, p137

     The second, ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$, read "summation of x, quantity squared," tells us to first add up all the xs to get ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ and then square ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ to get ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$.

   • 1985, Serge Lang, Math!: Encounters with High School Students, p54

     ANN. ${\displaystyle ra}$ quantity cubed.

     SERGE LANG. That's right, ${\displaystyle (ra)^{3}}$.

Usage notes

• In mathematics, used to unambiguously orate mathematical equations; it is extremely rare in print, since there is no need for it there.

Synonyms

• Qty

Derived terms

• unknown quantity

Related terms

Translations

See also

• measure
• unit

Further reading

• quantity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• quantity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• quantity at OneLook Dictionary Search