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indent¹ Definition

in·dent (in dent′; for n. in′dent′, in dent′)

transitive verb

    1. to cut toothlike points into (an edge or border); notch; also, to join by mating notches
    2. to make jagged or zigzag in outline
  2. to sever (a written contract, etc.) along an irregular line, so that the parts may be identified
  3. to write out (a contract, etc.) in duplicate
  4. to bind (a servant or apprentice) by indenture
  5. to space (the first line of a paragraph, an entire paragraph, a column of figures, etc.) in from the regular margin
  6. to order by an indent

Etymology: ME endenten < OFr endenter or ML indentare, both < L in, in + dens, tooth

intransitive verb

  1. to form or be marked by notches, points, or a jagged border
  2. to space in from the margin; make an indention
  3. to draw up an order or requisition in duplicate or triplicate

noun

  1. a notch or cut in an edge
  2. an indenture, or written contract
    1. a space in from the margin; indention
    2. an indented line, paragraph, etc.
  4. Business an order form used in foreign trade and usually drawn up in duplicate or triplicate; specif.,
    1. any order for foreign merchandise
    2. an export order to buy certain goods at stated terms

indent² Definition

in·dent (in dent′; for n. in′dent′, in dent′)

transitive verb

  1. to make a dent, or slight hollow, in
  2. to apply (a mark, etc.) with pressure; impress; stamp in

Etymology: in- + dent

noun

a dent

indent Synonyms

indent

v.

make a margin, range, set in, set back; see order 3, paragraph.

indent Usage Examples

Object

  • coastline: In the case of indented coastlines, the method of drawing straight lines between points on the coast or at sea may be used.
  • paragraph: You can use indented paragraphs to make your blocks of text easier to read.
  • quotation: Within an indented section quotations should be marked by single quotation marks.
  • coast: View of an indented sea coast, fringed with small islands, thinly covered with pines.
  • text: You need to remember to indent the text on this option.
  • line: You're only required to indent the first line.

Converse of object

  • hang: A zero length mark will make a hanging indent instead.
  • set: M sets the margin widths and P sets the paragraph indent for the document.

Adjective modifier

  • small: Most cases have a small indent to allow for the winder shaft.
  • first: A first line indent means that the first line begins to the right of the rest of the paragraph.

Modifies a noun

  • marker: Drag the right indent marker to the desired point on the ruler then release the mouse button.

Modifying Another Word

  • deeply: Scoured by Ice Age glaciers, almost the entire length of Iceland's east coast is deeply indented.
  • heavily: It is these heavily indented shores which give Greece such rare beauty, quite unique in the Mediterranean.
  • slightly: All lines on the board are indented slightly - perhaps a sixteenth of an inch.
  • automatically: Do or do not, there is no try. [ /quote ] The [ quote ] tags will automatically indent the enclosed text.
  • highly: In the cactus house they speculated about highly indented cacti.

Noun used with modifier

  • paragraph: M sets the margin widths and P sets the paragraph indent for the document.

Preposition: from

  • margin: The quote should be indented from both margins ( example f ).

Preposition: with

  • cove: The coast is indented with coves and the warm turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea lap the beaches.
  • bay: Malta is by far the largest of the islands with a relatively flat limestone terrain and a coastline indented with numerous bays and harbors.