clue

name

1. The board game Cluedo whose goal is to solve the mystery of a fictitious murder.

noun

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”). Sense evolution with reference to the one which the mythical Theseus used to guide him out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. More at clew. Cognates Cognate with Cimbrian khnaul (“ball of yarn”), Dutch kluwe, kluwen (“ball thread or yarn, clew”), German Knäuel (“ballyarn; tangle”), Norwegian Nynorsk kljå (“a loom weight”); also Sanskrit ग्लौ (glau, “the moon; camphor; the earth”).

1. A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.

   “she had even had in the past a small smug conviction that in the domestic labyrinth she always kept the clue.”

2. Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.

   “Give me a clue because the question is too vague.”

   “Black tracks on the magneto, a hairline crack in the flywheel casing, pitted points or a spitless exhaust — all are clues to potential conkouts”

3. 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.”

4. 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.”

5. The text that indicates an answer in a crossword puzzle.

verb

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”). Sense evolution with reference to the one which the mythical Theseus used to guide him out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. More at clew. Cognates Cognate with Cimbrian khnaul (“ball of yarn”), Dutch kluwe, kluwen (“ball thread or yarn, clew”), German Knäuel (“ballyarn; tangle”), Norwegian Nynorsk kljå (“a loom weight”); also Sanskrit ग्लौ (glau, “the moon; camphor; the earth”).

1. To provide with a clue.

   “The crossword compiler wasn't sure how to clue the word "should".”

2. To provide someone with information which they lack (often used with "in" or "up").

   “Smith, clue Jones in on what's been happening.”

   “I stared into my mind for some image to clue me what to say but I saw only blackness there.”

3. Alternative form of clew.

   “If the lee-side of the sail were clued up, the risk would be small compared with what it would be were the sheet nearly aft and the whole sail full of wind on starting the tack.”