queue
UK: kjuː | US: kjuː
n. 1. A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn.
n. 2. (Computing) A data structure where elements are added at one end and removed from the other (FIFO).
v. 1. To form or join a line while waiting.
No data yet.
The word "queue" originates from the Old French "cue" or "coe," meaning "tail," derived from Latin "cauda" (tail). Over time, the spelling evolved to "queue" in Modern French, retaining the meaning of a "line" (metaphorically resembling a tail). The computing sense emerged in the mid-20th century, likening data order to a physical queue.
We stood in the queue for tickets for over an hour.
The system processes tasks in a strict queue order.
Please queue quietly until the store opens.
The printer job queue is full—try again later.
In Britain, queueing is considered a cultural norm.