Word of the Day Archive
Friday November 15, 2002

segue \SEG-way; SAYG-way\ , intransitive verb:
1. To proceed without interruption; to make a smooth transition.

noun:
1. An instance or act of segueing; a smooth transition.

The gratifying thing about McCourt is that he can drop his professional character act and segue into a smart, emotionally direct conversation faster than you can say "Top o' the morning."
-- "Malachy Mccourt: How a Rogue Becomes a Saint", New York Times, July 29, 1998

A melody will start innocuously enough, then segue into the inevitable buildup, with swelling strings and bursting brass.
-- "Woe to Shows That Put On Operatic Airs", New York Times, July 20, 1997

Addie later recalled her host's charming segue to topics more pleasant.
-- Gary Kinder, Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea

Segue is from the Italian, meaning "there follows," from seguire, "to follow," from Latin sequi.

Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for segue

 

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