Cursors

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A movable indicator on a computer screen used to show where input will occur
2. An object on a graphical interface that represents the current position for user interaction
3. Any pointer, symbol, or sign that signifies a user's presence or control in a digital environment

Etymology: "Cursors" is the plural of "cursor," which is the marker on a computer screen that shows where your next action will take place. The plural form simply refers to more than one such marker, as in a document or program that displays several of them at once. The word itself is borrowed from Latin "cursor," meaning "runner," which comes from "currere," the verb "to run." The Latin suffix "-or" marks a person or thing that performs an action, so a cursor is literally something that runs or moves along. That sense of motion is what makes the modern meaning fit: the marker darts across the screen as you type or move the pointer.