LIST definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

The noun sense is from the verb, or from Middle English list, liste, lest, leste (“desire, wish; craving, longing; enjoyment, joy, pleasure”), which is derived from Middle English listen, list (verb). As a noun, “list” refers to an organized sequence of items, such as a grocery list or a catalog of names. The term “list” refers to an organized sequence of items, names, or tasks, used to simplify information and enhance clarity. First recorded in 1595–1605; special use of list 2 (in the sense “roll of names,” perhaps originally of contestants in the lists ); compare French liste, from Italian lista “roll of names,” earlier, “band, strip (e.g., of paper), border,” from Old High German l?sta ( German Leiste ) Uncertain; possibly from tilting on lists in jousts, or from Etymology 4 in the sense of inclining towards what one desires. Some studies show approximately 40% of grocery shoppers use shopping lists, while other studies show 61–67% use lists.

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An alternative is to create a “not-to-do list”, to avoid unnecessary tasks. The simplest tiered system includes a general to-do list (or task-holding file) to record all the tasks the person needs to accomplish and a daily to-do list which is created each day by transferring tasks from the general to-do list. There are also several web-based task list applications, many of which are free. Task lists can also have the form of paper or software checklists. Task lists are also business management, project management, and software development, and may involve more than one list.

Examples of list

A track list is a list of songs on an album, and set list is a list of songs that a band will regularly play in concerts during a tour. Items on a list are often delineated by bullet points or a numbering scheme. A list may also completely lack any principle of organization, if it does not serve a purpose for which such a principle is needed. A best sweepstakes casinos list of currently popular songs may provide the average person with suggestions for music that they may want to sample, but to a record company executive, the same list would indicate trends regarding the kinds of artists to sign to maximize future profits.

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• The term “list” is a widely recognized concept commonly used in personal, academic, and professional contexts.
• As a noun, “list” refers to an organized sequence of items, such as a grocery list or a catalog of names.
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• Add list to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

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A list that is sorted by some principle may be said to be following a ranking or sequence. An unsorted list is one “in which data items are placed in no particular order with respect to their content; the only relationships between data elements consist of the list predecessor and successor relationships”. Studies have determined that a list of items falling within a round number has a substantial psychological impact, such that “the difference between items ranked No. 10 and No. 11 feels enormous and significant, even if it’s actually quite minimal or unknown”. The practice of ordering a list evaluating things so that better items on the list are ahead of less good items is called ranking. Other “best of” lists are even more subjective, essentially coming down to a nonscientific approach to a single person’s opinion. Guitar Player and Bass Player magazines contain similar lists as do other types of music magazines.