Meaning & use
Clew
Last updated
A ball of thread or yarn, or the lower corner of a sail to which a rope is attached.
See it in a sentence
In the myth, Theseus followed a clew of thread to escape the labyrinth.
The sailor hauled in the clew as the wind shifted.
A note on using this word
'Clew' is the older spelling from which the modern word 'clue' developed, since a ball of thread could figuratively help someone find their way through a puzzle.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To coil or wind up (a rope or sail) into a ball or bundle.
The crew clewed up the mainsail before the storm hit.
Make it your own
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