clue

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /kluː/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

Singular clue

Plural clues

1. (countable) A clue is a piece of information that helps you answer a question or solve a problem.

   He said nothing, made no gesture, and gave no clue about what he was thinking.

   Something in those boxes might provide a clue to his death.

   She disappeared without a clue.

2. (informal) (singular) If you have no clue about something, you don't know at all.

   I'm afraid I have no clue how to get there.

   Don't ask him. He doesn't have a clue about computers.

   The guy's an idiot. He hasn't got a clue.

Synonyms

• hint
• idea
• trace

Related words

• clueless

Verb

Plain form clue

Third-person singular clues

Past tense clued

Past participle clued

Present participle cluing

1. (transitive & intransitive) (informal) If you clue somebody in to something, you give them that information that they didn't have.

   I had no idea what she was angry about until my sister clued me in.

   The look on her face finally clued me in: she didn't speak English.

   I finally clued in to the fact that it wasn't going to work.

Related words

• clued in / out