First Known Use: 1596
Dictionary
1clue
noun \ˈklü\
: something that helps a person find something, understand something, or solve a mystery or puzzle
: an understanding of something : knowledge about something
Full Definition of CLUE
1
: something that guides through an intricate procedure or maze of difficulties; specifically : a piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem
See clue defined for English-language learners
See clue defined for kids
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Origin of CLUE
alteration of clew
Related to CLUE
- Synonyms
- hint, cue, indication, inkling, intimation, lead, suggestion
Rhymes with CLUE
blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, glue, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, screw, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slough, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, through, to, too, true, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo
2clue
verb
cluedclue·ing or clu·ing
Definition of CLUE
transitive verb
1
: to provide with a clue
2
: to give reliable information to <he clued me in on how it happened>
See clue defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CLUE
1934
CLUED Defined for Kids
clue
noun \ˈklü\
Definition of CLUE for Kids
: something that helps a person to find something or to solve a mystery
Word History of CLUE
The word clue was originally an alternate spelling of clew, meaning “a ball of thread or yarn.” Our usual modern sense of clue, “something that helps solve a mystery,” grows out of the image of a ball of thread that helps a person to find a way out of a maze. Of stories containing this image, the best known is the Greek myth of Theseus and Ariadne. Ariadne gave the hero Theseus a ball of thread that he unraveled as he searched the labyrinth, or huge maze, of her father, King Minos. After killing the monster in the labyrinth, Theseus retraced his steps by rewinding the thread.
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