I. ˈkyü noun
Etymology: Middle English cu half a farthing (spelled form of q, abbreviation for Latin quadrans quarter of an as)
Date: circa 1755
: the letter q
II. noun
Etymology: probably from qu, abbreviation (used as a direction in actors' copies of plays) of Latin quando when
Date: 1553
1.
a. : a signal (as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action
b. : something serving a comparable purpose : hint
2. : a feature indicating the nature of something perceived
3. archaic : the part one has to perform in or as if in a play
4. archaic : mood , humor
III. transitive verb
( cued ; cu·ing or cue·ing )
Date: 1922
1. : to give a cue to : prompt
2. : to insert into a continuous performance
cue in sound effects
IV. noun
Etymology: French queue, literally, tail, from Old French cue, coe, queue, from Latin cauda
Date: circa 1749
1.
a. : a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball (as in billiards and pool)
b. : a long-handled instrument with a concave head for shoving disks in shuffleboard
2. : queue 2
V. verb
( cued ; cu·ing or cue·ing )
Date: circa 1784
transitive verb
1. : queue
2. : to strike with a cue
intransitive verb
1. : queue
2. : to use a cue