cursor

B2 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /ˈkɜɹsəɹ/ UK /ˈkɜːsə/ See IPA manual

Freq #52475

Meanings

1

noun
A small moving mark or arrow on a computer screen that shows where you are typing or pointing.

Move the cursor to the start of the line and click.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a small moving mark or... pointercaret

Word family

Forms cursors

Derived forms cursorjackingcursorlesspostcursorprecursor

Related forms courier current cursive cursory recursive

Simplified etymology

Cursor was borrowed in Middle English from Latin cursor, “runner,” derived from currere, “to run.” It first meant a running messenger; from the late 16th century it denoted a sliding indicator on an instrument, a use that led to the modern computing sense.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cursor (“runner”), from currō (“run”) + -or (agentive suffix). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European.

*ḱers- Proto-Indo-European cursor Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Technology & Computing

External links

# cursor

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɜɹsəɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɜːsə/
**Frequency rank:** 52475

## Meanings
1. A small moving mark or arrow on a computer screen that shows where you are typing or pointing.

## Examples
- Move the cursor to the start of the line and click.

## Derived Forms
- cursorjacking
- cursorless
- postcursor
- precursor

## Related Forms
- courier
- current
- cursive
- cursory
- recursive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ḱers-
- Root: cursor

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cursor (“runner”), from currō (“run”) + -or (agentive suffix). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European.

## AI Etymology
Cursor was borrowed from Latin cursor (“runner”), from currō (“run”) + -or, the agentive suffix, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱers-. The historical chain includes Latin cursor and the older Indo-European root. The modern computing sense applies the idea of movement to a small mark or arrow that shows where typing or pointing is taking place. Later formations include cursorjacking, cursorless, and postcursor.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing

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