cue1

Pronunciation: /kjuː/

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Definition of cue

noun

1a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance: she had not yet been given her cue to come out on to the dais
a signal for action:his success was the cue for the rest of Fleet Street to forge ahead
a circumstance or piece of information which aids the memory in retrieving details not recalled spontaneously.
Psychology a feature of something perceived that is used in the brain’s interpretation of the perception:expectancy is communicated both by auditory and visual cues
a hint or indication about how to behave in particular circumstances:my teacher joked about such attitudes and I followed her cue

2 [mass noun] a facility for playing through an audio or video recording very rapidly until a desired starting point is reached.

verb (cues, cueing or cuing, cued)

[with object]

1give a cue to or for:Ros and Guil, cued by Hamlet, also bow deeply
act as a prompt or reminder:have a list of needs and questions on paper to cue you

2set a piece of audio or video equipment in readiness to play (a particular part of the recorded material):there was a pause while she cued up the next tape

Phrases

on cue: at the correct moment:right on cue the door opened
take one's cue from: follow the example or advice of:McGee did not move and Julia took her cue from him

Origin:

mid 16th century: of unknown origin

Spelling help

Cueing is usually spelled with an e, although cuing is also correct.

Do not confuse cue with queue. Cue means 'a signal for action' (the announcement was a cue for the crowd to gather) or 'a long wooden rod', whereas queue means 'a line of people or vehicles' (I joined the end of the queue).

cue in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cue in the US English dictionary

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Other

cue1

noun

verb (cues, cueing or cuing, cued)

Phrases

on cue

take one's cue from

Origin:

Spelling help

cue in other Oxford dictionaries

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