cue

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkjuː/, [kj̊ʉː], (rare) [cj̊uː]
• Homophone: queue

Alternative forms

• kue, kew, que

The Oxford English Dictionary lists obsolete forms cu (15th century) and qu (pl. ques), que, kue, kewe (16th century), with the current form cue dating from the 16th century. Webster's Third New International Dictionary lists cue (pl. cues), kue (pl. kues) and ku (pl. kus) as current. There is also a form kew in recent use, and que continues to be used.

Noun

cue (plural cues)

1. The name of the Latin-script letter Q.
2. (obsolete, UK, universities) A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or half farthing and noted with a q (for Latin quadrāns (“farthing”)) in the buttery books.

Noun

cue (plural cues)

1. An action or event that is a signal for somebody to do something.
2. The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation for the next actor to speak; any word or words which serve to remind an actor to speak or to do something; a catchword.
3. (electronics, computing) A marker or signal that triggers something, such as the start of an audio recording.
4. A hint or intimation.
5. (obsolete) Humour; temper of mind.

Verb

cue (third-person singular simple present cues, present participle cueing or cuing, simple past and past participle cued)

1. To give someone a cue signal.
   • Cue the cameraman, and action!
2. (by extension) To spark or provoke.

Noun

cue (plural cues)

1. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) A straight tapering stick used to hit the balls in various games.
2. (obsolete) The tail; the end of a thing; especially, a tail-like twist of hair worn at the back of the head; a queue.

Verb

cue (third-person singular simple present cues, present participle cueing or cuing, simple past and past participle cued)

1. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) To take aim on the cue ball with the cue and hit it.
2. To form into a cue; to braid; to twist.

Anagrams

• ECU, Ecu., UCE, ecu, écu

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kʷɛ/

Interjection

cue

1. (mild exclamation)

Noun

cue

1. water; liquid

Alternative forms

• coe
• queue

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkwɛ/

Noun

cue f (oblique plural cues, nominative singular cue, nominative plural cues)

1. tail (of an animal)