cursor

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing

n. a blinking line or box that shows where the next letter you type will appear.

n. a visual indicator, typically a vertical bar or underscore, marking the insertion point for text entry.

“The cursor was blinking at the end of the sentence, waiting for me to type.”

“If the cursor disappears from the text field, you may need to click inside the box again to regain focus.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a tool in programming used to look at one row of data at a time in a large list.

n. a control structure that enables traversal over the records in a database result set.

“The programmer used a cursor to update each customer's address in the database.”

“Efficiently managing the database cursor is essential to prevent memory leaks when processing millions of individual records.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a sliding part on a tool, like a ruler, that shows a specific measurement.

n. a transparent or sliding component of a measuring instrument that indicates a specific value or position.

“Slide the cursor along the scale until it aligns with the mark.”

“The technician adjusted the cursor on the slide rule to ensure the calculation was accurate to three decimal places.”

C1 · Advanced Computing Technical

v. to move around a screen using the arrow keys on a keyboard.

v. to navigate through a digital interface or text document using directional keys.

“You can cursor down to the bottom of the page to find the link.”

“The software allows users to cursor through the menu options if their pointing device fails to respond.”