cursor

noun cur·sor \ ˈkər-sər , -ˌsȯr \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of cursor

: a movable item used to mark a position: such as

a : a transparent slide with a line attached to a slide rule

b : a visual cue (such as a flashing vertical line) on a video display that indicates position (as for data entry)

See cursor defined for English-language learners

See cursor defined for kids

Recent Examples of cursor from the Web

Use the trackpad the way 3D Touch is used on iOS devices to easily move the cursor.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "Apple is moving on from Intel because Intel isn’t moving anywhere," 3 Apr. 2018
Jessica Stapf visited this page a week ago, her cursor hovering over the deactivation button.

— abby ohlheiser, chicagotribune.com, "It's easy to hate Facebook, but it's much tougher to quit," 22 Mar. 2018
Any seasoned writer learns one thing: Staring at a blinking cursor is death.

— petra guglielmetti, Glamour, "11 Ways to Become a Real Writer (None Involving Student-Loan Debt!)," 13 Mar. 2018
Roll the cursor over the states to see what Valentine’s Day sweet is preferred.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "There's a new winner in favorite Valentine's Day candy sales | The Kansas City Star," 26 Jan. 2018
Chop Suey was narrated by the not-yet-famous author David Sedaris, voice-acting the role of the moon who also serves as the cursor.

— amy rose spiegel, The Cut, "I Think About This a Lot: The ’90s Computer Game Chop Suey," 26 Feb. 2018
The duo head to a parking lot to test out the mouse-car, which moves the cursor by driving and clicks by honking.

— sophie weiner, Popular Mechanics, "This Inventor Turned a Car Into a Giant Computer Mouse," 18 Feb. 2018
Winners of the first ever World Cup Uruguay won their eighth South American Championships in the winter of 1942 on their own turf, while Argentina won the Copa America's pre-cursor the year prior.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 18 Weeks to Go - Who Would've Won the 1942 Tournament?," 16 Feb. 2018
Although May's attention-hogging lawsuit may not be the ideal pre-cursor to the series' upcoming premiere, AMC's recently released preview photos of the sixth season are certainly keeping fans abuzz.

— amanda montell, Woman's Day, "1960s Top Model Sues 'Mad Men' Over Opening Credits," 4 Mar. 2013

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cursor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cursor

Latin, runner, from currere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1594

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CURSOR Defined for English Language Learners

cursor

noun

Definition of cursor for English Language Learners

: a mark on a computer screen that shows the place where information is being entered or read

CURSOR Defined for Kids

cursor

noun cur·sor \ ˈkər-sər , -ˌsȯr \

Definition of cursor for Students

: a symbol (as an arrow or blinking line) on a computer screen that shows where the user is working

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See words that rhyme with cursor Spanish Central: Translation of cursor Nglish: Translation of cursor for Spanish speakers

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CURSOR Defined for English Language Learners

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cursor

Definition of cursor for Students

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