key

key
key
key1 [kē]
n.
pl. keys [ME keye < OE cæge, akin to OFris kei, kēia, to secure, guard]
1. an instrument, usually of metal, for moving the bolt of a lock and thus locking or unlocking something
2. any of several instruments or mechanical devices resembling or suggesting this in form or use; specif.,
a) a device to turn a bolt, etc. [a skate key, a watch key]
b) a pin, bolt, wedge, cotter, or similar device put into a hole or space to lock or hold parts together
c) something that completes or holds together the parts of another thing, as the keystone of an arch or a roughened surface forming a secure base for plaster
d) any of a set of levers, or the disks, buttons, etc. connected to them, pressed down in operating a piano, accordion, clarinet, typewriter, linotype, word processor, etc.
e) a device for opening or closing an electric circuit
f) a small metal piece for fastening a wheel, pulley, etc. to a shaft
g) a key-shaped emblem presented as an honor [the key to the city]
3. something regarded as like a key in opening or closing a way, revealing or concealing, etc.; specif.,
a) a place so located as to give access to or control of a region [Vicksburg was the key to the lower Mississippi]
b) a thing that explains or solves something else, as a book of answers, the explanations on a map, the code to a system of pronunciation, etc.
c) a controlling or essential person or thing
4. tone of voice; pitch
5.
a) tone or style of thought or expression [in a cheerful key]
b) relative intensity of feeling [low-key remarks on a volatile subject]
6. the tone of a picture with regard to lightness or darkness or intensity of color
☆ 7. [< keyhole, its former shape] Basketball either of the marked or painted areas on the court near each basket, extending from the end line to the top of the circle that surrounds the foul line
8. Biol. an arrangement or listing of the significant characteristics of a group of organisms, used as a guide for taxonomic identification
9. Bot. KEY FRUIT
10. Comput. a field in a record, used to uniquely identify that record
11. Music
a) Obs. the keynote of a scale
b) a system of related notes or tones based on and named after a certain note (keynote, tonic) and forming a given scale; tonality
c) the main tonality of a composition
adj.
controlling; essential; important [a key position]
vt.
keyed, keying
1. to fasten or lock with a key or wedge
2. to furnish with a key; specif.,
a) to put the keystone in (an arch)
b) to provide with an explanatory key
3. to regulate the tone or pitch of
4. to bring into harmony or accord
5. KEYBOARD
——————
key in
to input (data) by means of a keyboard or keypad
——————
key (in) on
to focus one's attention, effort, etc. on [the teacher keyed in on the final chapter]
——————
key up
to make tense or excited, as in anticipation
key2 [kē]
n.
pl. keys [Sp cayo: sp. infl. by KEY1 & earlier key (quay)]
a reef or low island
key3 [kē]
n.
[< pronun. of 1st syllable of Sp kilogramo, kilogram]
Slang a kilogram (of marijuana or a narcotic drug)

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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Synonyms:
/ , , , , , / , , , / , / (in an instrument)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Key — (k[=e]), n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. c[ae]g.] 1. An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • KeY — is a formal software development tool that aims to integrate design, implementation, formal specification, and formal verification of object oriented software. It supports programs written in Java (more precisely: in a superset of Java Card) and… …   Wikipedia

  • key to — ˈkey to [transitive] usually passive [present tense I/you/we/they key to he/she/it keys to present participle keying to past tense keyed to …   Useful english dictionary

  • Key — Key, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Keved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Keying}.] 1. To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges. Francis. [1913 Webster] 2. (Computers) To enter (text, data) using keys, especially those on a keyboard; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • key — adj: of vital importance (as in a business organization) esp. so as to be specially insured to the benefit of an employer key man key employee insurance Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • key — Ⅰ. key [1] ► NOUN (pl. keys) 1) a small piece of shaped metal which is inserted into a lock and rotated to open or close it. 2) an instrument for grasping and turning a screw, peg, or nut. 3) a lever depressed by the finger in playing an… …   English terms dictionary

  • key — key, a. Essential; most important; as, the key fact in the inquiry; the president was the key player inthe negotiations. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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