Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.

[GoldfishLord]

• Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.

Source: Oxford dictionary example

proper adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of proper adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

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I'm having trouble understanding "indicate".
what's the exact meaning of it?

 

[emsr2d2]

• Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.

Source: Oxford dictionary example

proper adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of proper adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

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I'm having trouble understanding "indicate".
What's the exact meaning of it?

What definitions have you found in multiple good dictionaries?

 

[GoldfishLord]

1 [transitive] to show that something is true or exists
6 [transitive] (formal) to give information in writing

I'm not sure if the use of "indicate" matches sense 1 or 6

 

[emsr2d2]

If you bought a product and it contained a piece of paper with directions (instructions) on, which do you think those directions would be for?
- showing that the product is true or that it exists
- giving information about the product in writing

(Look at the words "proper use" too.)

 

[Tarheel]

It doesn't have to be in writing.

 

[Barque]

• Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.

Source: Oxford dictionary example

proper adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of proper adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

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I'm having trouble understanding "indicate".
what's the exact meaning of it?

If you have a problem with "indicate", why've you cited the dictionary definition of "proper"?

"Indicate" here means "point out" or "show". So the definition below is the right definition as it's the only one that fits the context.

[transitive] (formal) to give information in writing

I sometimes wonder why people seem so unwilling to think a little for themselves. I didn't learn English by constantly referring to dictionaries. I figured out meanings from the context. It's usually possible. Why's it so difficult for you?

 

[emsr2d2]

If you have a problem with "indicate", why've you cited the dictionary definition of "proper"?

"Indicate" here means "point out" or "show". So the definition below is the right definition as it's the only one that fits the context.

It would have been good if you'd waited to give the OP the opportunity to work it out, based on my hints in post #4.

I sometimes wonder why people seem so unwilling to think a little for themselves. I didn't learn English by constantly referring to dictionaries. I figured out meanings from the context. It's usually possible. Why's it so difficult for you?

@Barque That's unduly harsh. Not everyone learns the same way.

 

[Barque]

It would have been good if you'd waited to give the OP the opportunity to work it out, based on my hints in post #4.

Yes, I should have.

That's unduly harsh. Not everyone learns the same way.

Yes. GoldfishLord, I'm sorry about that--I've noticed various similar posts from various people and happened to react to this one.

 

[GoldfishLord]

I think that a dictionary’s definition is limiting and that you should not rely strictly on a dictionary entry.

 

[GoldfishLord]

Yes. GoldfishLord, I'm sorry about that--I've noticed various similar posts from various people and happened to react to this one.

I'd like to ask one more question.
The word notice has a meaning of "to be aware".
"noticed" doesn't mean "to be aware" but "to see".
Does the word notice have a meaning of "to see"?

 

[Barque]

The word notice has a meaning of "to be aware"

The verb "notice" doesn't mean "to be aware". It means "to become aware of" or "observe" or "see".

 

[GoldfishLord]

I'd like to ask a question.

• Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.

Do Manufacturers indicate the proper use of their product or do these directions indicate it?

 

[Barque]

Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.

Manufacturers provide these directions [in order] to indicate the proper use of their products.
Manufacturers indicate the proper use of their products through these directions.

Is it clearer now?

To put it differently, if I make a post to reply to your question, have I replied to your question by my post? Or is it my post that has replied?

 

[Barque]

You could say that the directions indicate the proper use.

But we all know that a list of directions must have been written by a person. Right?

So while we may say sometimes, "The directions printed on the box will tell you what to do", it effectively means "Someone has produced a list of directions. They're printed on the box. Read them to learn what to do".