clue

 
Pronunciation: /kluː/

noun

  • 1a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime: police officers are still searching for clues
  • a fact or idea that serves to reveal something or solve a problem: archaeological evidence can give clues about the past
  • 2a word or words giving an indication as to what is to be inserted in a particular space in a crossword: a long-pondered clue in a half-completed crossword

verb (clues, clueing, clued)

[with object] (clue someone in) informal
  • inform someone about a particular matter: Stella had clued her in about Peter

Phrases

have a clue

[usually with negative] informal know about something or about how to do something: I didn’t have a clue what was happening

Origin:

late Middle English: variant of clew. The original sense was 'a ball of thread'; hence one used to guide a person out of a labyrinth. clue (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the early 17th century