Background for clew

clew

/kluː/ /kljuː/

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

A roughly spherical mass or body.

Examples :

"The cat batted playfully at the clew of yarn, unraveling it slowly across the floor. "

Illustration clew - Image 1

Illustration clew - Image 2

noun

A ball of thread or yarn.

Examples :

"The kitten batted playfully at the clew of bright red yarn, unraveling it across the living room floor. "

Illustration clew - Image 1

Illustration clew - Image 2

noun

Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.

Examples :

"The scattered papers and disorganized notes were a confusing mess, but a single, dated receipt served as the clew that helped her piece together the events of that day. "

way literature story sign word

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

The lower corner(s) of a sail to which a sheet is attached for trimming the sail (adjusting its position relative to the wind); the metal loop or cringle in the corner of the sail, to which the sheet is attached. (on a triangular sail) The trailing corner relative to the wind direction.

Examples :

"The sailor tightened the sheet attached to the clew of the mainsail to improve the boat's performance in the wind. "

nautical sailing technical vehicle direction sport

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

(in the plural) The sheets so attached to a sail.

Examples :

"The sailor adjusted the tension on the clews of the mainsail to catch more wind. "

nautical sailing ocean

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

(in the plural) The cords suspending a hammock.

Examples :

"The old hammock sagged because several of its clews were frayed and close to breaking. "

nautical sailing

Illustration clew - Image 1

verb

To roll into a ball

Examples :

"She carefully clewed the long yarn into a neat ball after she finished knitting. "

Illustration clew - Image 1

verb

(transitive and intransitive) to raise the lower corner(s) of (a sail)

Examples :

"The sailor clewed the mainsail as they approached the harbor, reducing its size to prepare for docking. "

nautical sailing

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.

Examples :

"The single forgotten word in the student's notes was the clew that unlocked the entire theorem. "

way sign literature story linguistics

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.

Examples :

"The torn envelope with a foreign stamp was the first clew in unraveling the mystery of her grandmother's secret life. "

Illustration clew - Image 1

Illustration clew - Image 2

noun

An object or a kind of indication which may be used as evidence.

Examples :

"The misplaced library book, found hidden under a student's desk, was a vital clew in figuring out who had vandalized the computers. "

story sign thing literature

Illustration clew - Image 1

noun

Insight or understanding ("to have a clue [about]" or "to have clue". See have a clue, clue stick)

Examples :

"After reviewing the experiment's data, the scientist finally had a clew to the puzzle's solution. "

mind ability abstract philosophy logic