cue
n. countablen. a signal that tells someone to start doing something. You might see a light or hear a sound that acts as a reminder to act.
n. a signal, such as a word or action, that serves as an indicator for a person to begin a specific task or performance.
The actor waited for his cue to walk onto the stage.
Social cues like a smile or a nod help people understand how a conversation is going.
In professional broadcasting, the floor manager provides a silent hand signal as a cue for the presenter to begin their introductory monologue.
From Middle English cu (used for half a farthing, from q as an abbreviation for Latin quadrāns (“quarter of an as”)), from Latin cū, kū. Compare French ku.
From earlier qu, abbreviation of Latin quandō (“when”), marked on actor's play copy where they were to begin.
Variant of queue, from French queue (“tail”).
Often used with the preposition 'for' or 'to' followed by an infinitive.