queue

American  

[kyoo] / kyu /

noun

1. a braid of hair worn hanging down behind.

2. a file or line, especially of people waiting their turn.

3. Computers. a FIFO-organized sequence of items, as data, messages, jobs, or the like, waiting for action.

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verb (used with or without object)

queued, queuing

1. to form in a line while waiting (often followed byup ).

2. Computers. to arrange (data, jobs, messages, etc.) into a queue.

queue British  

/ kjuː /

noun

1. a line of people, vehicles, etc, waiting for something

   a queue at the theatre

2. computing a list in which entries are deleted from one end and inserted at the other

3. a pigtail

4. See queue-jump

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verb

1. to form or remain in a line while waiting

2. computing to arrange (a number of programs) in a predetermined order for accessing by a computer

Other Word Forms

• queuer noun

Etymology

Origin of queue

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French, from Latin cauda, cōda “tail”

Example Sentences

The company has since restored service, but suspended the game's marketplace until further notice and warned players they may face queues when trying to log on.

From BBC

At polling stations that had seen large queues form during the 2020 election, a much smaller number of voters trickled in.

From The Wall Street Journal

He had come to vote at Notre Dame college in the Plateau district, where voters queued in a hall below a huge portrait of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the west African nation's founding president.

From Barron's

It's lucky that British people love a queue, as the plush toys prompted long lines around the world.

From BBC

"It's definitely a lot quieter than usual," he noticed, "though Lush did have a big, massive queue this year."

From BBC