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

Full-screen or tiled apps have rounded corners, even though the cursor and floating windows can go all the way into the square corners of a screen. —ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025

Image courtesy of the researchers View gallery - 5 images Researchers at Meta have developed a wristband that translates your hand gestures into commands to interact with a computer, including moving a cursor, and even transcribing your handwriting in the air into text. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 23 July 2025

The software will then decode and translate the neural data into actions, such as moving a cursor or a chess piece on a computer screen, playing video games and even using design software. —Miami Herald, 3 July 2025

Before working with the UC Davis team, T15 communicated using a gyroscopic head mouse to control a cursor on a computer screen. —ArsTechnica, 29 June 2025

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

Rhymes for cursor

• bursar
• mercer
• purser
• precursor

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