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

The Apple Vision Pro uses this tech to let your eyes act like a mouse cursor, rather than having to use controllers like the Quest 3’s. —Andrew Williams, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

That blinking cursor on the blank page is starting to look less like a taunt and more like an invitation to try something new. —Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024

The roomy, backlit keyboard has a numeric keypad, the trademark TrackPoint cursor controller with three mouse buttons, and a midsized touchpad with a comfortable click. —PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024

On social media earlier this year, Neuralink demonstrated that its BCI can be used to control a computer cursor. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2024

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