Definition of "hint"

hint

/hɪnt/

noun
plural hints
1. A clue.
2. An implicit suggestion that avoids a direct statement.
3. A small, barely detectable amount.
  Quotations
  And I perceived no touch of change,⁠No hint of death in all his frame,⁠But found him all in all the same, […]
  1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], canto XIV, page 23
  Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, […] .
  1922, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest‎
4. (computing) Information in a computer-based font that suggests how the outlines of the font's glyphs should be distorted in order to produce, at specific sizes, a visually appealing pixel-based rendering; an instance of hinting.
5. (databases) An instruction to the database engine as to how a query should be executed, for example whether to use an index or not.
6. (obsolete) An opportunity; occasion; fit time.
  Quotations
  I, not remembering how I cried out then, / Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint / That wrings mine eyes to't.
  1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]
verb
third-person singular simple present hints, present participle hinting, simple past and past participle hinted
1. (intransitive) To imply without a direct statement; to provide a clue.
  Quotations
  I have tried, as I hinted, to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity.
  1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad
2. (transitive) To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner.
  Quotations
  VVilling to vvound, and yet afraid to ſtrike, / Juſt hint a fault and heſitate diſlike; […]
  1735 January 13 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1734), [Alexander] Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot, London: […] J[ohn] Wright for Lawton Gilliver […], page 11, lines 198–199
  We shall not describe this tragical scene too fully; but we thought ourselves obliged, by that historic integrity which we profess, shortly to hint a matter which we would otherwise have been glad to have spared.
  1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […]
3. (transitive) To develop and add hints to a font.
interjection
1. (often reduplicated) Signifies that something previously said should be taken as a hint or heeded closely.

Definition of "hint"

hint

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations

interjection