queue

[ kyoo ]

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.

verb (used with or without object)

, queued, queu·ing.

1. to form in a line while waiting (often followed by up ).
2. Computers. to arrange (data, jobs, messages, etc.) into a queue.

queue

/ 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
   jump the queue
   jump the queue See queue-jump

verb

1. introften foll byup 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 Words From

• queu·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of queue¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of queue¹

C16 (in the sense: tail); C18 (in the sense: pigtail): via French from Latin cauda tail

Example Sentences

“While Apple will never admit it, I think there are times when they simply forget an item’s in the review queue or they intentionally keep it untouched as a sanction to a developer giving them the wrong attitude,” said Shoji.

From Fortune

This summer, when the majority of tests were being shoved into the PCR queue, turnaround times stretched out, with some people waiting more than two weeks for test results.

From ProPublica

That makes it harder to get more people on our team, to get space in the dev queue to make site changes, to get rises and promotions.

From Search Engine Land

While it may have helped get rid of the snaking queues, this steep tax has suppressed the demand for liquor.

From Quartz

Around 550,000 of these people were standing in a queue waiting for an apartment in Stockholm.

From Freakonomics

A few years ago, I was standing in a queue behind two men and eavesdropping on their conversation.

From The Daily Beast

With Seacrest, the queue of big-name Miss Havishams in lacy, "nude" boring dresses reached a critical mass.

From The Daily Beast

If only because it was the most ridiculously glamorous queue for the make-up chair I have ever seen.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, it could take some time, given that Syria has pushed a lot of things to the back of the queue.

From The Daily Beast

At the beginning of this year, the queue in Embassy/Baghdad was roughly 2,000 cases (meaning upwards of 4-5,000 individuals).

From The Daily Beast

Her hair had fallen from its pins and hung in a braid, its length concealed by her position, and making the effect of a queue.

From Project Gutenberg

The veil had slipped and might easily have been mistaken for a ribbon confining the queue at the base of the head.

From Project Gutenberg

His heart was open as the day,His feelings all were true; His hair was some inclined to gray—He wore it in a queue.

From Project Gutenberg

He wore a long queue, which depended half-way down his back.

From Project Gutenberg

Complaints are useless; a ruthless hand sweeps you away, and the queue closes up.

From Project Gutenberg