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cue

noun (1)
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\ ˈkyü How to pronounce cue (audio) \

Definition of cue

 (Entry 1 of 5)

: the letter q

cue

noun (2)

Definition of cue (Entry 2 of 5)

1a : a signal (such as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action That last line is your cue to exit the stage.
b : something serving a comparable purpose : hint I'll take that yawn as my cue to leave.
2 : a feature indicating the nature of something perceived The expressions on people's faces give us visual cues about their feelings.
3 archaic : the part one has to perform in or as if in a play
4 archaic : mood, humor

cue

verb (1)
cued; cuing or cueing

Definition of cue (Entry 3 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to give a cue to : prompt cued the band to begin
2 : to insert into a continuous performance cue in sound effects

cue

noun (3)

Definition of cue (Entry 4 of 5)

1a : a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball (as in billiards and pool)
b : a long-handled instrument with a concave head for shoving disks in shuffleboard
2 : queue sense 2

cue

verb (2)
cued; cuing or cueing

Definition of cue (Entry 5 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : queue
2 : to strike with a cue

intransitive verb

1 : queue
2 : to use a cue

First Known Use of cue

Noun (1)

circa 1755, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

circa 1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for cue

Noun (1)

Middle English cu half a farthing (spelled form of q, abbreviation for Latin quadrans quarter of an as)

Noun (2) and Verb (1)

probably from qu, abbreviation (used as a direction in actors' copies of plays) of Latin quando when

Noun (3) and Verb (2)

French queue, literally, tail, from Old French cue, coe, queue, from Latin cauda

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Cite this Entry

“Cue.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cues. Accessed 9 December 2019.

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More Definitions for cue

cue

noun
\ ˈkyü How to pronounce cue (audio) \

Kids Definition of cue

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something serving as a signal or suggestion : hint The baby's whine is a cue she's tired.
2 : a word, phrase, or action in a play serving as a signal for the next actor to speak or to do something

cue

noun

Kids Definition of cue (Entry 2 of 2)

: a straight tapering stick used in playing billiards and pool

cue

noun
\ ˈkyü How to pronounce cue (audio) \

Medical Definition of cue

: a minor stimulus acting as an indication of the nature of the perceived object or situation foreshortened lines in the picture are cues to depth perception

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More from Merriam-Webster on cue

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cue

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with cue

Spanish Central: Translation of cue

Nglish: Translation of cue for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of cue for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cue

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