cue¹ / kyoō/ • n. a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance. ∎  a signal for action: any conversational lull was my cue for asking a question. ∎  a piece of information or circumstance that aids the memory in retrieving details not recalled spontaneously. ∎  Psychol. a feature of something perceived that is used in the brain's interpretation of the perception. ∎  a hint or indication about how to behave in particular circumstances: my teacher joked about such attitudes and I followed her cue. ∎  a facility for playing through an audio or video recording very rapidly until a desired starting point is reached.• v. (cues, cued, cue·ing or cu·ing) [tr.] give a cue to or for. ∎  act as a prompt or reminder. ∎  set a piece of audio or video equipment in readiness to play (a particular part of the recorded material): features make it easier to cue up a tape for editing.PHRASES: on cue at the correct moment: right on cue the door opened.take one's cue from follow the example or advice of.cue² • n. a long, straight, tapering wooden rod for striking the ball in pool, billiards, snooker, etc.• v. (cues, cued, cue·ing or cu·ing) [intr.] use such a rod to strike the ball.

cue.
1. Last few notes of another instr. part which immediately precede entrance or re-entrance after a lengthy rest of the instr. (or v.) on whose mus. the cue is written.

2. When instrumentation is condensed, orch. parts of eliminated instrs. are ‘cued’ in with the parts of suitable alternative instrs.

3. Cue nos.: the system of letters and/or nos. in a score which enable cond. to rehearse certain sections by indicating exact place in the score, e.g. ‘3 bars before letter D’.

cue 2 pigtail; billiard-player's stick. XVIII. var. of QUEUE.

cue 1 actor's word(s) serving as a signal for another to enter or speak; (hence) hint. XVI (q, qu, quew, kew, cue). of unkn. orig.