From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishclueclue1 /kluː/ ●●● S2 noun [countable] 1 SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEMan object or piece of information that helps someone solve a crime or mystery Police have found a vital clue.clue to/about/as to We now have an important clue as to the time of the murder. Archaeological evidence will provide clues about what the building was used for.clue in This information is a valuable clue in our hunt for the bombers. a desperate search for clues2 REASONinformation that helps you understand the reasons why something happensclue to/about/as to Childhood experiences may provide a clue as to why some adults develop eating disorders.3 SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEMa piece of information that helps you solve a crossword puzzle, answer a question etc I’ll give you a clue, Kevin, it’s a kind of bird.4 → not have a clue (where/why/how etc)COLLOCATIONSverbsprovide a clueAny information could provide the police with useful clues.hold a clue (also yield a clue formal) (=provide one)The poem itself holds a clue about who it was written for.leave a clueThe bombers may have left behind vital clues.search (something) for cluesDetectives are still searching the house for clues.look for/hunt for cluesInvestigators descended on the crime scene hunting for clues.find a clueNo one had found any clues as to where the missing girl could be.adjectivesan important/useful/valuable clueThe car used in the robbery may provide important clues.a vital clue (=very important)A videotape could hold vital clues to the criminal’s identity.a further clue (=an additional clue)They searched the surrounding area for further clues.phrasesa search for cluesShe opened every drawer in her desperate search for clues.
Examples from the Corpus
clue• When Silverstein switched off the tape and asked the students to write down a clue, they were simply lost.• A careful history may give a clue as to the origin.• First, the fairly simple trick of separating two component parts of a clue by a number of pages.• The back-drops to portrait photos in the photographer's studio can also offer important dating clues.• The FBI sorted through the suspects' garbage in hopes of finding clues.• An answer to that question might give clues to the broader question of the function of sleep.• But there can also be trickery using material clues.• Police are investigating but said they had no clue as to the motive.• I smoked one cigarette after another, but that was the only clue to my tumult.clue to/about/as to• His eyes are searching the inside of the car for a clue as to what could have happened.• Instead, she studied the Fannings intently for clues as to their mysterious behavior.• It gives no clues as to the social context of art works.• Which meant I had no clue as to his present appearance.• I had no clue as to where I was anymore.• The package offered no clue as to the identity of the sender.• Sometimes at night Wojciech howls to the wolves and their answers provide clues as to their whereabouts and numbers.• He searched his mind for some clue as to why he should know Jacob Valentine.clue to/about/as to• His eyes are searching the inside of the car for a clue as to what could have happened.• Instead, she studied the Fannings intently for clues as to their mysterious behavior.• It gives no clues as to the social context of art works.• Which meant I had no clue as to his present appearance.• I had no clue as to where I was anymore.• The package offered no clue as to the identity of the sender.• Sometimes at night Wojciech howls to the wolves and their answers provide clues as to their whereabouts and numbers.• He searched his mind for some clue as to why he should know Jacob Valentine.give ... a clue• Personally, I'd not have made any heavyweight preparations but avoided giving any clues until the last moment.• He gave no clue Sunday night about which option he would choose, though he asked his followers for financial support.• He gave the clue, Gilbert.• This may give some clues on how overheating contributes to cot death.• A peek at his studio gives a clue.• The use of this material could very well gave us a clue to the date of the first stone church at Halling.• It is the segregation of employment by gender which gives the best clues as to why women generally earn less than men.clueclue2 verb → clue somebody ↔ in→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
clue• With this Charles Shultz-like irreverence, the Swonkmeisters clue us in to their special spirituality.ClueClue trademark the US name for the game CluedoOrigin clue1 (1500-1600) clew “ball of string” ((11-19 centuries)), from Old English cliewen; from the use of a ball of string for finding the way out of a network of passages 