table of contents
Noun: A list, typically found at the beginning of a book or document, that displays the titles of its major divisions (such as chapters, sections, or articles) in sequential order, along with the page numbers where each division begins. Its primary function is to provide readers with an overview of the document's structure and to facilitate navigation.
The term "table of contents" is used as a singular noun phrase. It is often preceded by the definite article "the" and is typically capitalized as "Table of Contents" when used as a formal heading. - Always refer to the table of contents to find specific chapters quickly. - The report's table of contents is on page iii. - Please update the Table of Contents after you add the new appendix.
- Noun:
- Before reading the manual, I checked the table of contents to see if it covered troubleshooting.
- The table of contents listed twelve chapters, each with several sub-sections.
- A detailed table of contents is essential for any long academic paper.
"to generate a table of contents": In word processing, this refers to the automated creation of a table of contents based on document headings.
- Most software can generate a table of contents automatically if you use the correct heading styles.
"hyperlinked table of contents": A digital table of contents where each entry is a clickable link that takes the reader directly to that section.
- The e-book features a hyperlinked table of contents for easy navigation.
- Contents (n): A shortened, informal form of "table of contents."
- See the contents for a list of chapters.
- TOC: A common abbreviation used in digital formats and publishing.
- The TOC needs to be updated.
- Index (n): A different, alphabetically ordered list of topics, names, etc., with page numbers, usually found at the end of a book.
- Outline (n): A general plan or summary of a document's main points, which may be less detailed than a formal table of contents.
- Contents list: A less common but direct synonym.
- Summary of contents: Emphasizes the summarizing function.
- List of figures/tables: A separate list, similar in format to a table of contents, that catalogs all figures or tables within a document and their page numbers.
- a list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start