cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər 

-ˌsȯr

: 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)

Examples of cursor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thankfully, the palm rejection is on point; otherwise, the cursor would go off into the stratosphere. —PCMAG, 25 July 2024

Machine-learning algorithms analyze the signals and translate them into the movement of, say, a cursor or a robotic arm. —Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2024

With this generation of keyboards, Lenovo has not only swapped the Ctrl and Fn keys (correctly putting them in that order at lower left) but added more tactile ridges to the bottom of not only the F and J keys but Enter, Insert, and the cursor down arrow. —Eric Grevstad, PCMAG, 8 Aug. 2024

This means the left control stick moves a cursor around, while the A button clicks. —Eric Ravenscraft, WIRED, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cursor "runner, courier," from currere "to run" + -tor, agent suffix — more at current entry 1

Note: For cursor as agent noun of currere in place of expected *co(r)stor see note at course entry 1. As with other Latin deverbal derivatives, the zero grade ablaut of the past participle has been generalized with all suffixes ending in -t-.

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər 

: a mark (as a bright blinking spot) on a computer display screen that shows the place where the user is working