noun / verb
clue
KLOO/kluː/
Information that helps someone understand or solve something.
The muddy footprints give us a clue about the intruder.
Etymology
A ball of thread became an image for guidance through a mystery, recalling Ariadne’s thread leading Theseus out of the Labyrinth. A clue similarly points the way through a difficult problem.
In context
the clue to where this gold is hidden is the internal structure of this rock magnified 500 times
More examples
- This crossword clue asks for a five-letter bird.
- The blinking light offers a clue to the problem.
- Can you clue me in on the new schedule?
Forms
clue · clues · clued · cluing · clueing
clueless adjective — Having no knowledge or understanding of something.
Similar words
- hint
- Often a subtle suggestion rather than a discovered fact.
- evidence
- Supports a conclusion rather than merely suggesting where to look.
- indication
- Signals a condition without necessarily helping solve a mystery.