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queue en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /kjʉw/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (California) audio
• /kjuː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /kjʉw/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /kjʉ/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /kɪʊ/ (Wales)
• kyo͞o (General-American)
• /kju/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English queue, quew, qwew, couwe, from Anglo-Norman queue, keu and Old French cöe, cue, coe (“tail”), from Vulgar Latin cōda, from Latin cauda. See also Middle French queu, cueue. Doublet of coda and cola.

Meanings

1. (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, in North America, uncommon) A line of people, vehicles or other objects, usually one to be dealt with in sequence (i.e., the one at the front end is dealt with first, the one behind is dealt with next, and so on), and which newcomers join at the opposite end (the back).
   • George Osborne said: “In terms of getting an international trade deal with the United States, we would have to get to the back of the queue.” And Obama said: “Would it be helpful if I said that?”[…]. So he used the words in the press conference, and people said: “Well, that sounds like somebody’s told you to say that because you used the word ‘queue’ instead of ‘line’.” 2026 June 23, “‘Geldof started flicking Vs at Farage’: the story of the Brexit campaign, told by those with a front-row seat”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • In a report published on October 31, Transport Focus said that a number of train companies were unable to convince it about their ability to sell a full range of tickets, handle cash payments, and avoid excessive queues at ticket machines. 2023 November 15, 'Industry Insider', “Outbreak of common sense”, in RAIL, number 996, page 68:
   • I was absent-minded at the moment and was last in the queue. 1916, John Buchan, “Chapter 5”, in Greenmantle:
2. A waiting list or other means of organizing people or objects into a first-come-first-served order.
3. A data structure in which objects are added to one end, called the tail, and removed from the other, called the head (in the case of a FIFO queue). The term can also refer to a LIFO queue or stack where these ends coincide.
   • 2005, David Flanagan, Java in a Nutshell, p. 234, Queue implementations are commonly based on insertion order as in first-in, first-out (FIFO) queues or last-in, first-out queues (LIFO queues are also known as stacks).
4. An animal's tail.
   • HESSE: Az., a lion, queue fourchée, rampt., barry of ten, arg. and gu., crowned, or, and holding in his dexter paw a sword, ppr., hilt and pommel, gold. 1863, Charles Boutell, A Manual of Heraldry, page 369:
5. (historical) A men's hairstyle with a braid or ponytail at the back of the head, such as that worn by men in Imperial China.
   • Caparisoned for a week in purple velvet knee-length pantaloons, a red silk jacket with buckles of shiny brass, and a white goat's-hair wig which culminated behind in a saucy queue, I must have presented an exotic sight […] 1967, William Styron, The Confessions of Nat Turner, Vintage, published 2004, page 176:
   • […], there were seated astraddle the whole hundred of the baronet's musqueteers, each engaged in plaiting into a queue the hair of the man who sat in front of him. 1889, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter XIX, in Micah Clarke: […], London: Longmans, Green, and Co […], →OCLC:
   • In the morning and evening, spruce Chinamen stroll about or chat at each other's doors, in blue trousers, white jacket, and a queue into which red silk is plaited till it reaches almost to their heels. 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 213:
   • A large number of loyal officials, rather than shave the front part of the head and wear the Manchu queue, voluntarily shaved the whole head, […] 1912, Herbert Allen Giles, China and the Manchus, Chapter III — Shun Chih

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
queues	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Hyponyms

breadline · stack · double-ended queue · prio queue · reference queue · circular queue · poison queue · traffic jam · priority queue · dole queue · batch queue · jump queue · message queue · job queue · ready queue

Relateds

queueing theory · jump the queue · caudal · cue · quevée · queueless · queue-jumper · queue-jump

Synonyms

queue · line (line of people, vehicles, etc) · lineup (line of people, vehicles, etc)

Translations (202)

fr file (waiting list) · id antrean (line of people) · ug رەت (line of people) · es lista de pendientes (waiting list) · tl tutsang (hairstyle) · pt fila (FIFO) (data structure) · ja 行列 (line of people) · tg саф (line of people) · ur قَطار (line of people) · es coleta (hairstyle) · sk front (line of people) · be чарга́ (waiting list) · tk nobat (line of people) · id antre (line of people) · fa-ira صَفّ (line of people) · de Warteschlange (line of people) · ja 辮髪 (hairstyle) · ug قاتار (line of people) · cmn 隊列 /队列 (line of people) · az növbə (line of people) · pt alinhamento (line of people) · mt kju (line of people) · hy հերթ (line of people) · es cola (line of people) · ru о́чередь (data structure) · bg опашка (data structure) · sk rad (line of people) · it fila (line of people) · vi tóc đuôi sam (hairstyle) · he תוֹר (waiting list) · da kø (line of people) · pt fila (waiting list) · cs fronta (waiting list) · es fila (line of people) · da kø (waiting list) · ca fila (line of people) · tg навбат (line of people) · pl ogon (heraldry: animal's tail) · ko 줄 (line of people) · ca cua (line of people) · el σειρά (waiting list) · af lyn (line of people) · pdt Rieej (line of people) · ru о́чередь (line of people) · fi jono (data structure) · uk черга́ (waiting list) · is biðröð (line of people) · de Reihe (line of people) · el αλογοουρά (hairstyle) · km កន្ទុយ (line of people) · it coda (data structure) · it coda (line of people) · nl wachtrij (waiting list) · ro coadă (FIFO) (data structure) · cmn 佇列 (data structure) · ga ciú (line of people) · pl kolejka (line of people) · cmn 辮子 /辫子 (hairstyle) · gl cola (line of people) · cs fronta (FIFO) (data structure) · fi letti (hairstyle) · mn оочир (line of people) · ba сират (line of people) · da stak (LIFO) (data structure) · fr queue (line of people) · sq rend (line of people) · ko 대기줄 (line of people) · sl vŕsta (line of people) · sq radhë (line of people) · tl pila (line of people) · nrf tcheue (line of people) · ar صَفّ (line of people) · pl lista oczekujących (waiting list) · fi jono (waiting list) · fi jono (line of people) · cs zásobník (LIFO) (data structure) · sv kö (line of people) · prs قَطَار (line of people) · es lista (waiting list) · eo vico (line of people) · acm طَابُور (line of people) · ka ნაწნავი (hairstyle) · he תוֹר (data structure) · is biðröð (FIFO) (data structure) · lo ຄິວ (line of people) · es hila (line of people) · sv kö (FIFO) (data structure) · pl koński ogon (hairstyle) · pt rabicho (hairstyle) · fr file (line of people) · id antre (waiting list) · ja 列 (line of people) · fi häntä (heraldry: animal's tail) · es cola de un animal (heraldry: animal's tail) · bg опашка (waiting list) · uk че́рга (line of people) · sv svans (heraldry: animal's tail) · pt fila (line of people) · ka დალალი (hairstyle) · es pila (LIFO) (data structure) · fa-ira صَف (line of people) · ar طابُور (line of people) · sjd о̄чередтҍ (line of people) · ur قِطار (line of people) · es cola (waiting list) · tt чират (line of people) · pl ogonek (line of people) · ru коси́чка (hairstyle) · uz ochered (line of people) · ja 待ち行列 (line of people) · ru стек (data structure) · de Warteliste (waiting list) · be чарга́ (line of people) · mi tūtira (line of people) · tr sıra (line of people) · tg очеред (line of people) · kk кезек (line of people) · et järjekord (line of people) · es lista de espera (waiting list) · ro coadă (hairstyle) · mk ред (line of people) · fr queue (heraldry: animal's tail) · fi palmikko (hairstyle) · cy ciw (line of people) · ug ئۆچرەت (line of people) · gv arbyl (heraldry: animal's tail) · ta வரிசை (line of people) · hi पंक्ति (line of people) · th คิว (line of people) · es cola (FIFO) (data structure) · pt rabo de cavalo (hairstyle) · pl kolejka (data structure) · es fila (waiting list) · ka რიგი (waiting list) · mnc ᠰᠣᠨᠴᠣᡥᠣ (hairstyle) · it fila (waiting list) · cv черет (line of people) · el ουρά (line of people) · sv väntelista (waiting list) · acm سِرا (line of people) · ru о́чередь (waiting list) · el ουρά (data structure) · he תּוֹר (line of people) · ro coadă (line of people) · da kø (FIFO) (data structure) · tg қатор (line of people) · ru хвост (heraldry: animal's tail) · bg опа́шка (line of people) · nb kø (waiting list) · da hårpisk (hairstyle) · sh rȇd (line of people) · cs fronta (line of people) · sv kö (waiting list) · fr natte (hairstyle) · de Schlange (line of people) · cy cwt (line of people) · hu sor (line of people) · fur code (line of people) · bg опа́шка (hairstyle) · hi क़तार (line of people) · orv черга (line of people) · sv stack (LIFO) (data structure) · is biðröð (LIFO) (data structure) · uk че́рга (waiting list) · ka რიგი (line of people) · el σειρά (line of people) · fr file (data structure) · he מחסנית (data structure) · nb kø (line of people) · th แถวคอย (data structure) · af ry (line of people) · cmn 等待名单 (waiting list) · uk черга́ (line of people) · uz qator (line of people) · ga scuaine (line of people) · es en espera (waiting list) · mn ээлж дараалал (line of people) · id antrean (waiting list) · ba толом (hairstyle) · kpv ӧчередь (line of people) · ota قویروق (line of people) · ka მდგომ (line of people) · acm صَفّ (line of people) · lv rinda (line of people) · vi xếp nối đuôi (line of people) · nn kø (line of people) · ru хвост (hairstyle) · eo vosto (heraldry: animal's tail) · sh ре̑д (line of people) · mi rārangi (line of people) · uz navbat (line of people) · nl rij (line of people) · bg опашка (heraldry: animal's tail) · mr रांग (line of people) · th คิว (data structure) · es línea (line of people) · ky кезек (line of people) · tr kuyruk (line of people) · eo vico (waiting list) · ru коса́ (hairstyle) · pt pilha (LIFO) (data structure) · da venteliste (waiting list)

queue en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /kjʉw/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (California) audio
• /kjuː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /kjʉw/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /kjʉ/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /kɪʊ/ (Wales)
• kyo͞o (General-American)
• /kju/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English queue, quew, qwew, couwe, from Anglo-Norman queue, keu and Old French cöe, cue, coe (“tail”), from Vulgar Latin cōda, from Latin cauda. See also Middle French queu, cueue. Doublet of coda and cola.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To put oneself or itself at the end of a waiting line.
   • Although there is a spacious circulating area beyond the platforms at Clacton, there is severe overcrowding on peak Saturdays; at times of pressure passengers have to queue out into the street [...] 1959 April, B. Perren, “The Essex Coast Branches of the Great Eastern Line”, in Trains Illustrated, page 189:
2. (intransitive) To arrange themselves into a physical waiting queue.
3. (transitive) To add to a queue data structure.
4. To fasten the hair into a queue.
   • The sons, in short square skirted coats with rows of stupendous brass buttons, and their hair generally queued in the fashion of the times, especially if they could procure an eel skin for the purpose, it being esteemed throughout the country as potent nourisher and strengthener of the hair. 1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
   • Though Monroe the man has become a vague anachronistic figure in knee breeches and with queued, powdered hair, his name is perpetuated in the Monroe Doctrine, evoked by him as a temporary response to an immediate crisis. 1968, Francis Russell, The American Heritage History of the Making of the Nation:
5. To matchmake.
   • I'm queueing into a game.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
queued	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
queued	Tense=Past		lexicographic
queuing	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
queues	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres		lexicographic
queueing	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic

Deriveds

dequeue · requeue · solo queue · nonqueued · queueless · queueable · unqueued · nonqueueing · queuer · enqueue · queue up

Relateds

LIFO · cue · FIFO

Synonyms

line up (place itself at the end of a queue) · join the queue (place itself at the end of a queue) · join a queue (place itself at the end of a queue)

Translations (48)

vi sắp hàng (put oneself at the end of a queue) · fi muodostaa jono (arrange into a queue) · ms beratur (put oneself at the end of a queue) · ja 並ぶ (put oneself at the end of a queue) · fr se mettre en ligne (put oneself at the end of a queue) · ru стать в о́чередь (put oneself at the end of a queue) · fr faire la queue (put oneself at the end of a queue) · el περιμένω στην σειρά (put oneself at the end of a queue) · it fare la fila (put oneself at the end of a queue) · pl stać w kolejce (put oneself at the end of a queue) · da danne kø (arrange into a queue) · bg наре́ждам се на опа́шка (put oneself at the end of a queue) · pt entrar na fila (put oneself at the end of a queue) · id antre (put oneself at the end of a queue) · nrf faithe la tcheue (put oneself at the end of a queue) · sv köa (put oneself at the end of a queue) · hu beáll a sorba (put oneself at the end of a queue) · fr faire la queue (arrange into a queue) · mi rārangi (arrange into a queue) · ru станови́ться в о́чередь (put oneself at the end of a queue) · hu sorba áll (put oneself at the end of a queue) · el σχηματίζω σειρά (arrange into a queue) · ko 줄을 서다 (put oneself at the end of a queue) · de aufreihen (arrange into a queue) · pl stanąć w kolejce (put oneself at the end of a queue) · cmn 排隊 /排队 (arrange into a queue) · it mettere in fila (arrange into a queue) · pl ustawić w kolejkę (arrange into a queue) · es formar/hacer cola/fila (put oneself at the end of a queue) · es poner en fila (arrange into a queue) · he עמד בתור (put oneself at the end of a queue) · pl ustawiać w kolejkę (arrange into a queue) · de sich anstellen (put oneself at the end of a queue) · sq rëndis (arrange into a queue) · ru стоя́ть в о́череди (put oneself at the end of a queue) · sv ställa sig i kö (put oneself at the end of a queue) · de Schlange stehen (put oneself at the end of a queue) · it fare la coda (put oneself at the end of a queue) · fi jonottaa (arrange into a queue) · pt enfileirar (arrange into a queue) · mi tūtira (arrange into a queue) · cmn 排隊 /排队 (put oneself at the end of a queue) · ja 並ぶ (arrange into a queue) · it mettersi in fila (put oneself at the end of a queue) · ar وَقَفَ فِي الصَّفّ (put oneself at the end of a queue) · da stille sig i kø (put oneself at the end of a queue) · es formar (put oneself at the end of a queue) · fi jonottaa (put oneself at the end of a queue)