cue
1anything said or done, on or off stage, that is followed by a specific line or action: An off-stage door slam was his cue to enter.
anything that excites to action; stimulus.
a hint; intimation; guiding suggestion.
the part a person is to play; a prescribed or necessary course of action.
a sensory signal used to identify experiences, facilitate memory, or organize responses.
Archaic. frame of mind; mood.
to provide with a cue or indication; give a cue to; prompt: Will you cue me on my lines?
to insert, or direct to come in, in a specific place in a musical or dramatic performance (usually followed by in or into): to cue in a lighting effect.
to search for and reach (a specific track on a recording) (sometimes followed by up).
Idioms about cue
cue (someone) in, Informal. to inform; give instructions, information, news, etc., to: Cue him in on the plans for the dance.
miss a cue,
to fail to respond to a cue.
Informal. to miss the point: You could tell by his expression that he had missed a cue.
Origin of cue
1Other words for cue
Words that may be confused with cue
- cue , queue
Other definitions for cue (2 of 3)
a long, tapering rod, tipped with a soft leather pad, used to strike the ball in billiards, pool, etc.
a long, usually wooden stick with a concave head, used to propel the disks in shuffleboard.
a queue or braid of hair worn behind the head.
a queue or file, as of persons awaiting their turn.
to tie into a queue.
to strike with a cue.
Origin of cue
2Other definitions for cue (3 of 3)
the letter Q, q.
Origin of cue
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use cue in a sentence
Instead, the writers had to rely on visual cues and ambiance.
Yep, Korra and Asami Went in the Spirit Portal and Probably Kissed | Melissa Leon | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe same applies to other visual cues that tend to go unremarked.
Minaj further mystifies her motives by layering these terrifying, offensive visual cues with her own totally incongruous lyrics.
Nicki Minaj’s ‘Only’ Lyrics Video Is Like a Loose Adaptation of ‘Mein Kampf’ ft. Drake | Amy Zimmerman | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen we did it in the dress rehearsal one of the music cues was late and we both flubbed a rap line.
How Aidy Bryant Stealthily Became Your Favorite ‘Saturday Night Live’ Star | Kevin Fallon | October 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDespite all the visual cues which might suggest otherwise, Manning was adamant that he was not trying to promote himself.
Do I understand that billiard cues have also taken to hunger-striking?
But, while we have time, tell me my cues, for I share your opinion of the Duke of Alva.
The Ghost Breaker | Charles GoddardAt 14, I wasn't super-sure what a wizard was supposed to sound like, but I could take my cues from the movies and novels.
Little Brother | Cory DoctorowThe facts are very questionable, but we have no other cues for determining that menstruation is taking place.
Criminal Psychology | Hans GrossWe select the things that we hope or trust are cues to meaning.
How We Think | John Dewey
British Dictionary definitions for cue (1 of 2)
/ (kjuː) /
(in the theatre, films, music, etc) anything spoken or done that serves as a signal to an actor, musician, etc, to follow with specific lines or action
on cue at the right moment
a signal or reminder to do something
psychol the part of any sensory pattern that is identified as the signal for a response
the part, function, or action assigned to or expected of a person
(tr) to give a cue or cues to (an actor)
(usually foll by in or into) to signal (to something or somebody) at a specific moment in a musical or dramatic performance: to cue in a flourish of trumpets
(tr) to give information or a reminder to (someone)
(intr) to signal the commencement of filming, as with the word "Action!"
Origin of cue
1British Dictionary definitions for cue (2 of 2)
/ (kjuː) /
billiards snooker a long tapered shaft with a leather tip, used to drive the balls
hair caught at the back forming a tail or braid
US a variant spelling of queue
to drive (a ball) with a cue
(tr) to twist or tie (the hair) into a cue
Origin of cue
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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