cue Hear it!

cue¹ Definition

cue (kyo̵̅o̅)

noun

  1. a bit of dialogue, action, or music that is a signal for an actor's entrance or speech, or for the working of curtains, lights, sound effects, etc.
  2. Music a gesture or written device used to signal the entry of one or more instrumentalists or vocalists
  3. anything serving as a signal to do something
  4. an indirect suggestion; hint
  5. Now Rare
    1. the role that one is assigned to play
    2. a necessary course of action
  6. Archaic frame of mind; mood; temperament
  7. Psychol. a secondary stimulus that guides behavior, often without entering consciousness

Etymology: < q, Q, used in plays in 16th & 17th c. to indicate actors' entrances; prob. abbrev. of some L word (as quando, when, qualis, in what manner)

transitive verb cued, cu·ing or cue·ing

to give a cue to

cue¹ Idioms

cue in

to add (dialogue, music, etc.) at a particular point in a script

cue² Definition

cue (kyo̵̅o̅)

noun

  1. queue ()
  2. a long, tapering, tipped rod used in billiards and pool to strike the cue ball
  3. a long, shovel-like stick used in shuffleboard to push the disks

Etymology: var. of queue

transitive verb cued, cu·ing or cue·ing

  1. to braid (hair)
  2. to strike (a cue ball) with a cue

cue Synonyms

cue

n.

  1. Theatrical or musical warning

    prompt, signal, preceding speech, catchword, warning signal, reminder, opening bar(s), sign, nod, tip-off*; see also sign 1.

  2. Hint

    lead, innuendo, idea, tip; see hint 1, 2, suggestion 1.

cue Usage Examples

Object

  • recall: When recall ing lists of words, what is the difference between free recall and cued recall?

Converse of object

  • miss: In what I take to be whatever the opposite of a missed cue is?
  • detect: Failure to detect cues from the immune system changes the parasite's development pattern.

Adjective modifier

  • non-verbal: We therefore need to develop and use other non-verbal cues which are tangible and helpful to the child.
  • paralinguistic: Paralinguistic cues What are paralinguistic cues in the context of text-based communication?
  • contextual: The words are arranged in random order to minimize contextual cues.
  • nonverbal: Nonverbal cues crucial buck you put which qualify a opening a card.
  • visual: For a visual cue to some of these words, please refer to our Map.
  • auditory: Catching a bounced ball is easier to catch, because of the auditory cue from the ball hitting the floor.

Modifies a noun

  • weighting: Development of cue weighting strategies in children's speech perception.
  • ball: The cue ball must be played from the spot near the front of the table.
  • bid: Partner had slower ways of reaching 4NT had he wished to force, such as a cue bid of 4.
  • sheet: SR: I usually provide my producers and distributors with a cue sheet, but they never get down to doing it.
  • card: On the cue cards were colored cartoon drawings of three imaginary people, with names.

Noun used with modifier

  • snooker: Simon wins a 3 piece ash snooker cue endorsed by " The Rocket " Ronnie O'Sullivan.
  • styling: You could see the styling cues from the big saloon all over the new sports car.
  • billiard: At about 11.30 am he looked in at Louis Meier's shop, intending to buy a billiard cue.
  • retrieval: In Hindi, the agreement feature provides an extra retrieval cue at the verb.
  • pool: The tall pool player was still looking around angrily, holding his pool cue like a bat.
  • lighting: There are over 350 lighting cues called by the stage manager per performance.
cue Quotes

And there he plays extravagant matches In fitless finger-stalls On a cloth untrue With a twisted cue And elliptical billiard balls.

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

Browse dictionary entries near cue

  1. cudweed
  2. cudgel
  3. cuddy
  4. cuddly
  5. cuddlesome
  6. cuddle
  7. cudbear
  8. cud
  9. cucurbit
  10. cucumber tree
  1. cue ball
  2. cue card
  3. Cuenca
  4. Cuernavaca
  5. cuesta
  6. cuff
  7. cuff link
  8. cuffing trades
  9. Cufic
  10. CUG