English

Noun

cue ‎(plural cues)

1. An action or event that is a signal for somebody to do something.
   • 2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:

     This time Cudicini was left helpless when Natcho stepped up to expertly curl the ball into the top corner.
     That was the cue for further pressure from the Russian side and it took further Cudicini saves to keep the score down.

2. The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation for the next actor to speak; any word or words which serve to remind an actor to speak or to do something; a catchword.
   • Shakespeare

     When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer.

3. A hint or intimation.
   • Jonathan Swift

     Give them [the servants] their cue to attend in two lines as he leaves the house.

4. (obsolete) Humour; temper of mind.
5. The name of the Latin-script letter Q/q.
6. (obsolete, Britain, universities) A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or half farthing and noted with a q (for Latin quadrans farthing) in the buttery books.

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) letter; a, bee, cee, dee, e, ef, gee, aitch, i, jay, kay, el, em, en, o, pee, cue, ar, ess, tee, u, vee, double-u, ex, wye, zee/zed ^{(Category: en:Latin letter names)}

Derived terms

• on cue
• right on cue
• sensory cue

Translations

Verb

cue ‎(third-person singular simple present cues, present participle cueing, simple past and past participle cued)

1. To give someone a cue signal.

   Cue the cameraman, and action!

   • 2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club:

     The episode also opens with an inspired bit of business for Homer, who blithely refuses to acquiesce to an elderly neighbor’s utterly reasonable request that he help make the process of selling her house easier by wearing pants when he gallivants about in front of windows, throw out his impressive collection of rotting Jack-O-Lanterns from previous Halloweens and take out his garbage, as it’s attracting wildlife (cue moose and Northern Exposure theme song).

2. (by extension) To spark or provoke
   • 2016 September 28, Tom English, “Celtic 3–3 Manchester City”, in (Please provide the title of the work), BBC Sport:

     The teenager, as beloved a full-back as any in these parts since Danny McGrain was tearing it up, cut in, shot and saw his attempt deflected in off Sterling's boot. Cue more pandemonium.

Usage notes

This is often used in the imperative.

Etymology 2

Cues for cuesports

Variant of queue.

Noun

cue ‎(plural cues)

1. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) A straight tapering stick used to hit the balls in various games.
2. (obsolete) The tail; the end of a thing; especially, a tail-like twist of hair worn at the back of the head; a queue.

Derived terms

• cue ball

Translations

Verb

cue ‎(third-person singular simple present cues, present participle cueing, simple past and past participle cued)

1. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) To take aim on the cue ball with the cue and hit it.
2. To form into a cue; to braid; to twist.

Synonyms

• cue up

Anagrams

• ecu, écu
• UCE

Old French

Alternative forms

• coe
• queue

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin cōda, from Latin cauda.

Noun

cue f ‎(oblique plural cues, nominative singular cue, nominative plural cues)

1. tail (of an animal)

Descendants

• Middle French: queu, cueue
  • French: queue
  • English: queue, cue (partly through Anglo-Norman)

References

• cowe on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub