{
    "term": "clue",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "an object, a piece of evidence or some information that helps the police solve a crime",
            "sensetop": "clue about somethingclue (as) to something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The burglar left no clues."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are searching for clues about the kidnapping.",
                    "contextForm": "clue about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The police think the CCTV recording may **offer clues** to the identity of the killer.",
                    "contextForm": "clue (as) to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "So far, the police haven't got any clues as to the motive for the crime."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The hat gives a clue to the identity of the killer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The letter yielded no clues."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We must have missed some vital clue."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a clue as to her whereabouts"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Is there any clue as to how the burglars entered the building?"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Crime and punishment"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["good", "important", "useful"],
                "verb + clue": ["contain", "have", "hold"],
                "preposition": ["clue about", "clue (as) to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a fact or a piece of evidence that helps you discover the answer to a problem",
            "sensetop": "clue about somethingclue (as) to something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This data may **provide clues** about the current economic situation.",
                    "contextForm": "clue about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The trailer **gives** a few important **clues** about the film's plot."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Diet may hold the clue to the causes of migraine.",
                    "contextForm": "clue (as) to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The text offers few clues as to his identity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The picture contains subtle clues about the site's history."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This research might provide an important clue about how cancer develops."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["good", "important", "useful"],
                "verb + clue": ["contain", "have", "hold"],
                "preposition": ["clue about", "clue (as) to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "some words or a piece of information that helps you find the answers to a crossword, a game or a question",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘You'll never guess who I saw today!’ ‘Give me a clue.’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **cryptic clue** *(= one that has a hidden meaning)* from a crossword"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["good", "important", "useful"],
                "verb + clue": ["contain", "have", "hold"],
                "preposition": ["clue about", "clue (as) to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to know nothing about something or about how to do something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I don't have a clue where she lives."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to be very stupid",
            "labels": "(disapproving)",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Don't ask him to do it—he doesn't have a clue!"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kluː/",
                "audio": "cl/clue/clue__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kluː/",
                "audio": "cl/clue/clue__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: variant of clew. The original sense was ‘a ball of thread’; this was used to guide a person out of a labyrinth. Sense (1) dates from the early 17th cent."
}