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Rolodex

Rolodex

15 7.9
A rotating desk device that holds cards with people's names and phone numbers
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊləˌdɛks/
  • Archaic
translation icon : tarjetero giratorio
  • She has a Rolodex filled with names and addresses of all her contacts.
  • Rolodex cards

You know, you need to figure out what kind of Rolodex your sales Rep has.

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Examples

  • My virtual Rolodex includes a cadre of lawyers, but none who focus on estate planning themselves.

    Blog text (18)
  • With a quick scan of our network's Rolodex, I find the number for the University Club, home of the partners' retreat.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • She, she has a better Rolodex than I have at this point, which is wonderful.

  • It's right there in the Rolodex, or whatever.

  • Help me finish looking through this old Rolodex here.

  • I need you to go in and pull his card from my rolodex while I look for a pen.

  • Okay, time to dig out the old Rolodex.

  • Keep an up-to-date rolodex of important addresses and phone numbers.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Maybe he'd moved away and had filed her phone number in his Rolodex.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • She's on the Rolodex.

How Convenient

Rolodex
  • Archaic
15 7.9
card index
  • Archaic
1 4.4
phone book
  • Archaic
60 1.0

Surface Forms

Rolodex singular
Rolodexes plural

Morphology

Rolodex = roll + index (semi-transparent) = roll + index

A brand-name blend of 'roll' + 'index' (the '-dex' from 'index') so components hint at a rotating card index, but the clipped form and trademarked coinage make the relation less immediately regular for learners.

Etymology

Rolodex started as a brand name made from roll ('to turn') and index ('a list of names'). It refers to a rotating card file for names, addresses, and phone numbers, so Rolodex now means a contact list you can quickly flip through.