clew
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clew 1
(klo͞o)n.
1. A ball of yarn or thread.
2. Greek Mythology The ball of thread used by Theseus to find his way out of the labyrinth.
3. clews The cords by which a hammock is suspended.
4. also clue Nautical
a. One of the two lower corners of a square sail.
b. The lower aft corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
tr.v. clewed, clew·ing, clews
1. To roll or coil into a ball.
2. also clue Nautical To raise the lower corners of (a square sail) by means of clew lines. Used with up.
[Middle English clewe, from Old English cliwen.]
clew 2
(klo͞o)n. & v. Chiefly British
Variant of clue1.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
clew
(kluː)n
1. a ball of thread, yarn, or twine
2. (Nautical Terms) nautical either of the lower corners of a square sail or the after lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail
3. (Nautical Terms) (usually plural) the rigging of a hammock
4. a rare variant of clue
vb
(tr) to coil or roll into a ball
[Old English cliewen (vb); related to Old High German kliu ball]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
clew
(klu)n.
2. either lower corner of a square sail or the after lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
3. a ball or skein of thread, yarn, etc.
4. Usu., clews. the rigging for a hammock.
v.t. 5. to coil into a ball.
[before 900; Middle English clewe, Old English cleowen, cliewen=cliew- (c. Old High German kliu ball) + -en -en5]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Clew
a globe, ball, or spherical bunch; a tangled cluster of things; a ball of thread, etc.Examples: clew of bees, 1616; of cord; of thread; of yarn; of worms, 1669.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
clew
Past participle: clewed
Gerund: clewing
| Imperative |
|---|
| clew |
| clew |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | clew - a ball of yarn or cord or thread |
| 2. | clew - evidence that helps to solve a problem evidence - an indication that makes something evident; "his trembling was evidence of his fear" | |
| Verb | 1. | clew - roll into a ball |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
clew
vt
thread → aufwickeln
(Naut) to clew (up) → aufgeien
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007