a ball of thread, yarn, or cord, a piece of evidence or information that may be followed up, a lower corner of a sail, to which a sheet is attached

clew up, clew down, follow a clew

Formal and Informal Expressions of clew

In different contexts, you can replace 'clew' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'clue, evidence' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'hint, lead' is a commonplace synonym.

clew: Explore its Definition & Usage

clew Definition

1a ball of thread, yarn, or cord
2a piece of evidence or information that may be followed up
3a lower corner of a sail, to which a sheet is attached

Using clew: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "clew" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He left a clew of yarn behind him as he walked through the house.
Example
The detective followed every clew in the case until he found the culprit.
Example
The sailor tightened the clew of the sail to catch more wind.
Example
The clew of the sail was torn and needed repair.

clew Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for clew

Phrases with clew

clew up
to roll up or gather into a ball
Example
She clewed up the yarn after finishing her knitting project.
clew down
to lower the lower corners of a sail by slackening the sheets
Example
The sailor clewed down the sail to reduce the speed of the boat.
follow a clew
to follow a trail of clues or evidence to find something or someone
Example
The detective followed a clew that led him to the suspect's hideout.

Origins of clew

from Old English 'cleowen', meaning 'a ball of thread'

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Summary: clew in Brief

The term 'clew' [kluː] refers to a ball of thread or cord, a piece of evidence or information, or a lower corner of a sail. It can be used in phrases like 'clew up,' meaning to roll up, and 'follow a clew,' meaning to follow a trail of clues. 'Clew' is a formal synonym for 'clue' or 'evidence.'