different between clue vs fingerprint

English

Etymology

Variant of clew (“a ball of thread or yarn”), from Middle English clewe, from Old English cl?ewen (“ball”), from Proto-Germanic *kliuw?n?, *klewô (“ball, bale”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to amass, conglomerate; clump, ball, bale”). Sense evolution with reference to the one which the mythical Theseus used to guide him out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. More at clew.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /klu?/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /klju?/
• Rhymes: -u?
• Homophone: clew

Noun

clue (plural clues)

1. (now rare) A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.
2. Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.

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

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

Synonyms

• (information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion): hint, indication, suggestion
• (object or indication which may be used as evidence): signature
• (understanding): idea

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• evidence
• red herring

Verb

clue (third-person singular simple present clues, present participle cluing or clueing, simple past and past participle clued)

1. To provide with a clue.

2. To provide someone with information which he or she lacks (often used with "in" or "up").

Derived terms

• clue in
• clued up

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Luce, leuc-, luce

Latin

Verb

clu?

1. second-person singular present active imperative of clue?

Middle English

Noun

clue

1. Alternative form of clewe

English

Alternative forms

• finger-print

Etymology

From finger +? print.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?f?????p??nt/

Noun

fingerprint (plural fingerprints)

1. The natural pattern of ridges on the tips of human fingers, unique to each individual.
2. The patterns left on surfaces where uncovered fingertips have touched, especially as used to identify the person who touched the surface.
   • 1974, Patricia Highsmith, Ripley's Game, chapter 7

     Nervously, he wiped the gun of fingerprints real and imaginary with the stocking-covered fingers.
3. (computing) Unique identification for public key in asymmetric cryptosystem.
4. A unique combination of features that serves as an identification of something.
5. A trace that gives evidence of someone's involvement.

Hyponyms

• thumbprint

Derived terms

• fingerprint analysis
• fingerprint recognition

Translations

See also

• (computing): hash

Verb

fingerprint (third-person singular simple present fingerprints, present participle fingerprinting, simple past and past participle fingerprinted)

1. (transitive) To take somebody's fingerprints.

   The jail staff fingerprints its inmates routinely
2. (transitive) To identify something uniquely by a combination of measurements.

Translations

See also

• dactylography
• biometrics