cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər 

-ˌsȯr

: a movable item used to mark a position: such as

a

: a transparent slide with a line attached to a slide rule

b

: a visual cue (such as a flashing vertical line) on a video display that indicates position (as for data entry)

Examples of cursor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the web, hover the cursor over your account name in the top-right corner of the screen, then choose History. —David Nield, WIRED, 2 Aug. 2024

The cursor never jumped into an unexpected place when typing, and using multitouch gesture inputs was a smooth experience. —PCMAG, 13 Oct. 2024

Netflix On the Netflix website, hover the cursor over your profile picture (top right), then choose Account and Manage Profiles, and click on your profile. —David Nield, WIRED, 2 Aug. 2024

These devices typically record the brain’s electrical activity while the patient is asked to move the cursor of a mouse on a computer screen. —Jan Claassen, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cursor "runner, courier," from currere "to run" + -tor, agent suffix — more at current entry 1

Note: For cursor as agent noun of currere in place of expected *co(r)stor see note at course entry 1. As with other Latin deverbal derivatives, the zero grade ablaut of the past participle has been generalized with all suffixes ending in -t-.

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər 

: a mark (as a bright blinking spot) on a computer display screen that shows the place where the user is working