'Clue' definitions:
Definition of 'clue'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Clue'
From: GCIDE
- Clew \Clew\ (kl[=u]), Clue \Clue\, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn[aum]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf. Knawel.]
- 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself. [1913 Webster]
- Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery. [1913 Webster]
- The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended. [1913 Webster]
- Clew garnet (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards.
- Clew line (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard.
- Clew-line block (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of Block. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Clue'
From: GCIDE
- Clue \Clue\ (kl[=u]), n. [See Clew, n.] A ball of thread; a thread or other means of guidance. Same as Clew. [1913 Webster]
- You have wound a goodly clue. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- This clue once found unravels all the rest. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- Serve as clues to guide us into further knowledge. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'clue'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acquaint,
- advice,
- advise,
- alerting,
- answer,
- apprise,
- basis for belief,
- body of evidence,
- broad hint,
- catchword,
- caution,
- chain of evidence,
- cue,
- cue word,
- data,
- datum,
- documentation,
- evidence,
- exhibit,
- fact,
- facts,
- fill in,
- gentle hint,
- gesture,
- glimmer,
- glimmering,
- grounds,
- grounds for belief,
- hint,
- hot lead,
- implication,
- imply,
- index,
- indicate,
- indication,
- indicator,
- inform,
- information,
- inkling,
- innuendo,
- insinuation,
- intimate,
- intimation,
- item of evidence,
- key,
- key word,
- kick,
- lead,
- look,
- manifestation,
- mark,
- material grounds,
- monition,
- muniments,
- mute witness,
- nod,
- notify,
- notion,
- nudge,
- office,
- passing word,
- piece of evidence,
- pointer,
- post,
- premises,
- prompt,
- proof,
- reason to believe,
- relevant fact,
- scent,
- sign,
- signal,
- spoor,
- steer,
- suggest,
- suggestion,
- suspicion,
- symptom,
- tell,
- telltale,
- tip,
- tip-off,
- token,
- trace,
- track,
- vestige,
- warn,
- warning,
- whiff,
- whisper,
- wind,
- wink