cursor

noun cur·sor \ ˈkər-sər , -ˌsȯr \

|Updated on: 4 Jul 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

Using a webcam, the system recognizes hand or head motions to move an on-screen cursor.

— matthew kitchen, WSJ, "The Death of the TV Remote—and What’s Coming Next," 15 June 2018
To do that, hover the cursor over the person’s name in your inbox list.

— New York Times, "Finding Your Contacts in the New Gmail," 21 May 2018
The display screens in both the 6.1-inch touch screen and 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster are pixelated like an 8-bit game in a greenish blue, blinking-cursor type style.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Review: 2017 Toyota Highlander isn't as fresh as the three-row competition," 31 May 2017
Using a special mouse strapped to his forehead that detects his smallest movement, Desikan moves a cursor around an on-screen keyboard.

— laurie mcginley, Washington Post, "Devastated by ALS, trying to save others," 13 June 2018
Other cars with touchpads use them in the conventional way, to control a cursor on the screen.

— alex davies, WIRED, "Acura Has Finally Made an Easy-to-Use Infotainment System," 14 May 2018
Every so often a news article appears that shows a disabled person directing movement of a computer cursor or a prosthetic hand with thought alone.

— r. douglas fields, Scientific American, "Wristband Lets the Brain Control a Computer with a Thought and a Twitch," 27 Mar. 2018
Their subjects were asked to move a cursor to a dot on a computer screen as quickly as possible.

— steve ayan, Scientific American, "10 Things You Don’t Know About Yourself," 15 May 2018
Open these up and you’ll be banished to the mid-2000s, moving a clunky mouse cursor up and down with an old school direction pad.

— michael zelenko, The Verge, "There’s no perfect minimalist phone — yet," 3 May 2018

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

in the meaning defined above

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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

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