clue
Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.
Noun 4 meanings
Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.
“Give me a clue because the question is too vague.”
An object or a kind of indication which may be used as evidence.
“The detectives were looking for some clues at the scene of the crime.”
Insight or understanding ("to have a clue [about]" or "to have clue". See have a clue, clue stick)
“I had little clue that I was being carefully monitored by the CCTV.”
The text that indicates an answer in a crossword puzzle.
Verb 2 meanings
To provide with a clue.
“The crossword compiler wasn't sure how to clue the word "should".”
To provide someone with information which they lack (often used with "in" or "up").
“Smith, clue Jones in on what's been happening.”
Etymology
Variant of clew (“a ball of thread or yarn”), from Middle English clew, clewe, clowe, clue, clwe, clyw, clywe, from Old English clēowen, clīewen, clīowen, clīwen, clȳwe, clȳwen (“ball, sphere; skein”), from Proto-West Germanic *kliuwīn (“ball, clump”), from Proto-Germanic *kliuwīną, *klewô (“bale, ball, clump, mass”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to ball up, clump together; lump, swelling”).
Similar and opposite words
CLUE at a glance
CLUE has 4 letters and scores 6 points in Scrabble (C 3 + L 1 + U 1 + E 1) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,214 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with clue
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