how to pronounce clew

/kluː/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of clew is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

clew is pronounced in one syllable

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1.

uː

example pitch curve for pronunciation of clew

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video examples of clew pronunciation

An example use of clew in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… rolling towards the clew this means you …”

meanings of clew

noun:

Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.
The lower corner(s) of a sail to which a sheet is attached for trimming the sail (adjusting its position relative to the wind); the metal loop or cringle in the corner of the sail, to which the sheet is attached. (on a triangular sail) The trailing corner relative to the wind direction.
A roughly spherical mass or body.
A ball of thread or yarn.
The sheets so attached to a sail.
The cords suspending a hammock.
Obsolete spelling of clue.

verb:

To roll into a ball.
(transitive and intransitive) to raise the lower corner(s) of (a sail).

clew frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word clew occurs in english on average 0.1 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.