# cue

Pronunciation: say "KYOO" /ˈkjuː/

## Noun

1. A subtle hint or indication that points toward something.
   - Simple: A small hint that points you toward something.
   - _New parents learn that a yawn is often a cue that the baby is tired._
   - _She reads social cues better than anyone in the room._
2. An action or event that signals someone to do something.
   - Simple: A sign or action that tells someone it is time to do or say something.
   - _The director's nod was the cue for the dancers to begin._
   - _She waited for some cue from her boss before raising the issue._
3. A straight, tapering stick used to strike the balls in games such as pool, billiards, and snooker.
   - Simple: A long, thin stick used to hit the balls in pool or snooker.
   - _He bent over the table and drew back his cue._
   - _A warped cue can ruin even an expert player's aim._
5. The final words of an actor's speech, signaling the next performer to speak; any prompt reminding an actor what to say or do.
   - Simple: The last words of one actor's lines, or another signal, that tell an actor when to speak or do something.
   - _The young actor forgot his cue and left an awkward silence._
   - _Each performer learns the cue that prompts the next entrance._
6. A signal or marked point that sets off an event, for instance the starting point of an audio recording.
   - Simple: A marker or signal that starts something, like the beginning of a sound recording.
   - _The sound technician marked a cue for each scene change._
   - _Audio software lets you drop a cue anywhere in the track._

## Verb

4. To prompt or trigger something to happen.
   - Simple: To cause something to start or happen.
   - _The announcement cued a wave of panic buying._
   - _Certain songs cue strong feelings in listeners._
7. To give someone a signal indicating when to act or speak.
   - Simple: To give someone a sign that it is their turn to do or say something.
   - _The director cued the actors with a quick nod._
   - _He will cue you when it is time to enter._
8. To take aim at the cue ball with the stick and strike it.
   - Simple: To aim at the white ball and hit it in a game of pool.
   - _He cued the white ball softly so it stopped behind the red one._
   - _Players who cue too hard often lose control of the shot._

## Noun

9. The tail or end of something, and in particular a pigtail hanging from the back of the head; a queue. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The end or tail of something, especially a long twist of hair at the back of the head.
   - _The old gentleman wore a powdered cue tied neatly at the nape._
   - _Each soldier kept his cue greased and bound for parade._
10. One's humor or temper of mind; the frame of mind a person is in. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A person's mood or state of mind.
11. A small portion of bread or beer; the amount bought for a farthing or half farthing and recorded with a 'q' in college buttery books. *(obsolete, UK)*
   - Simple: A small amount of bread or beer bought for a tiny coin at old colleges.

## Other meanings

- (noun) The word that names the letter Q (q) of the Latin script.
- (verb) To twist or braid something, especially hair, into a tail-like form.

## Origin

**Meaning 11** — Latin cu or ku is the ultimate source, by way of Middle English cu. In Middle English the word could mean half a farthing, since q was written as a short form of Latin quadrans ("quarter of an as").
**Meanings 1–2, 4–7, 10** — This is probably the earlier qu, short for Latin quando ("when"). Actors' copies of a play had it written at the spot where each was to begin.
**Meanings 3, 8–9** — A variant of 'queue', from French queue ("tail").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cue (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).