clue

• clew

Variant of clew (“a ball of thread or yarn”), from Middle English clewe, from Old English clīewen (“ball”), from Proto-West Germanic *kliuwīn, from Proto-Germanic *kliuwīną, *klewô (“ball, bale”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to amass, conglomerate; clump, ball, bale”). Sense evolution with reference to the one which the mythical Theseus used to guide him out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. More at clew.

• IPA^(key): /kluː/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /kljuː/^[1]
• Rhymes: -uː
• Homophones: clew, clou, CLU

clue (plural clues)

1. (now rare) A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.
   • 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:

     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.

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.

• (information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion): hint, indication, suggestion
• (object or indication which may be used as evidence): signature
• (understanding): idea

• evidence
• red herring

clue (third-person singular simple present clues, present participle cluing or clueing, simple past and past participle clued)

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.

   • 2014, John Macgregor, The Antibiography of Ian Mcnulty:

     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
   • 1864, John McNeill Boyd, A Manual for Naval Cadets, page 444:

     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.

• clue in
• clue up, clued up

• Luce, leuc-, luce

cluē

1. second-person singular present active imperative of clueō

clue

1. Alternative form of clewe