clue

Meaning

Noun

1. (archaic) A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.
2. Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.
3. An object or a kind of indication which may be used as evidence.
4. Insight or understanding ("to have a clue [about]" or "to have clue". See have a clue, clue stick)

Verb

1. To provide with a clue.
2. To provide someone with information which they lack (often used with "in" or "up").
3. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of clew.

Synonyms

hint

trace

clew

key

🔑

inkling

tip

cue

lead

sign

scent

track

beginning

thread

🧵

intimation

spin

spoor

token

device

omen

insight

trail

indication

knot

🪢

vestige

portent

evidence

plan

pointer

presentiment

ratchet

revolve

rotate

run

scintilla

section

signal

solution

spur

start

steer

strand

suggestion

swirl

symptom

tip-off

troll

🧌

tumble

turn

twiddle

twirl

Translations

indice

indizio

indicio

pista

aanwijzing

Anhaltspunkt

Hinweis

pista

indício

pista

ipucu

preuve

dica

pista

tip

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kluː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: clewe

Inherited from Old English: clīewen

In summary

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.