key1

[kee] /ki/
noun, plural keys.
1.
a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt.
2.
any of various devices resembling or functioning as a key:
the key of a clock.
3.
key card.
4.
something that affords a means of access:
the key to happiness.
5.
something that secures or controls entrance to a place:
Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.
6.
something that affords a means of clarifying a problem.
7.
a book, pamphlet, or other text containing the solutions or translations of material given elsewhere, as testing exercises.
8.
a systematic explanation of abbreviations, symbols, etc., used in a dictionary, map, etc.:
pronunciation key.
Compare legend (def 4).
9.
the system, method, pattern, etc., used to decode or decipher a cryptogram, as a code book, machine setting, or keyword.
10.
one of a set of marked parts, designated areas, or levers pressed in operating a typewriter, computer terminal, calculator, etc.
11.
a manually operated lever for opening and closing an electric circuit, used to produce signals in telegraphy.
12.
Music.
  1. (in a keyboard instrument) one of the levers that when depressed by the performer sets in motion the playing mechanism.
  2. (on a woodwind instrument) a metal lever that opens and closes a vent.
  3. the relationship perceived between all tones in a given unit of music and a single tone or a keynote; tonality.
  4. the principal tonality of a composition:
    a symphony in the key of C minor.
  5. the keynote or tonic of a scale.
13.
tone or pitch, as of voice:
to speak in a high key.
14.
mood or characteristic style, as of expression or thought:
He writes in a melancholy key.
15.
degree of intensity, as of feeling or action.
16.
a pin, bolt, wedge, or other piece inserted in a hole or space to lock or hold parts of a mechanism or structure together; a cotter.
17.
a small piece of steel fitting into matching slots of a hub of a wheel or the like and the shaft on which the wheel is mounted so that torque is transmitted from one to the other.
18.
a contrivance for grasping and turning a bolt, nut, etc.
19.
Computers. a field or group of characters within a record that identifies the record, establishing its position among sorted records, and/or provides information about its contents.
20.
(in a series of advertisements or announcements soliciting replies) a unique code inserted for each medium used, to determine the relative effectiveness of the media.
21.
Electricity.
  1. a device for opening and closing electrical contacts.
  2. a hand-operated switching device ordinarily formed of concealed spring contacts with an exposed handle or push button, capable of switching one or more parts of a circuit.
22.
Biology. a systematic tabular classification of the significant characteristics of the members of a group of organisms to facilitate identification and comparison.
23.
Masonry. a keystone.
24.
Architecture. (in a ribbed vault) a stone, as a boss, at the intersection of two or more ribs.
25.
Masonry, Carpentry. a wedge, as for tightening a joint or splitting a stone or timber.
26.
Carpentry. a small piece of wood set into a timber across the grain to prevent warping.
27.
Building Trades. any grooving or roughness applied to a surface to improve its bond with another surface.
28.
Basketball. keyhole (def 2).
29.
Photography. the dominant tonal value of a picture, a high-key picture having light tonal values and minimal contrast and a low-key picture being generally dark with minimal contrast.
30.
Painting. the tonal value and intensity of a color or range of colors:
Rembrandt's colors are characterized by their low key.
31.
Botany. a samara.
32.
(initial capital letter) a member of the House of Keys.
33.
keys, spiritual authority.
adjective
34.
chief; major; important; essential; fundamental; pivotal:
a key person in the company; key industries.
verb (used with object), keyed, keying.
35.
to regulate or adjust (actions, thoughts, speech, etc.) to a particular state or activity; bring into conformity:
to key one's speech to the intellectual level of the audience.
36.
Music. to regulate the key or pitch of.
37.
Painting.
  1. to paint (a picture) in a given key.
  2. to adjust the colors in (a painting) to a particular hue:
    He keyed the painting to brown.
38.
to fasten, secure, or adjust with a key, wedge, or the like, as parts of a mechanism.
39.
to provide with a key.
40.
(in the layout of newspapers, magazines, etc.) to identify, through signs or symbols, the positions of illustrations or pieces of copy in a dummy.
41.
to lock with or as if with a key.
42.
Masonry. to provide (an arch or vault) with a keystone.
43.
Computers. keyboard (def 4).
verb (used without object), keyed, keying.
44.
to use a key.
45.
Computers. keyboard (def 4).
Verb phrases
46.
key in, Computers. keyboard (def 4).
47.
key on,
  1. Football. to watch the position and movements of an opponent in order to anticipate a play:
    The defensive backs keyed on the star receiver.
  2. Also, key in on. to single out as of prime importance or interest; be intent on or obsessed with:
    a company that is keyed in on growth.
48.
key up,
  1. to bring to a particular degree of intensity of feeling, excitement, energy, nervousness, agitation, etc.:
    keyed up over the impending test.
  2. to raise (a piece of masonry) by the insertion of a wedge or wedges.
  3. to raise (the haunches of an arch) by the insertion of a voussoir.
Idioms
49.
power of the keys, the authority of a pope in ecclesiastical matters, vested in him as successor of St. Peter.
Origin
before 900; Middle English key(e), kay(e), Old English cǣg, cǣge; cognate with Old Frisian kei, kai
Synonyms
6. answer, explanation, resolution, clue.

key2

[kee] /ki/
noun, plural keys.
1.
a reef or low island; cay.
Origin
1690-1700; < Spanish cayo, probably < Arawak

key3

[kee] /ki/
noun, plural keys. Slang.
1.
a kilogram of marijuana or a narcotic drug.
Origin
1965-70, Americanism; shortening and respelling of kilogram

Key

[kee] /ki/
noun
1.
Francis Scott, 1780–1843, U.S. lawyer: author of The Star-Spangled Banner.
Examples from the web for key
  • With an iron key, he unlocks the door to a storage room.
  • Learn about key events in history and their connections to today.
  • Most of the time is spent moving the fingers in the air towards the next key.
  • The key ingredient of the superglue that mussels use to attach themselves to rocks, boats and piers is iron, scientists say.
  • The key to the puzzle, they found, is that limestone erodes relatively easily.
  • The key to successful grilling is starting with a tasty cut of meat.
  • In a shared key system, you give one key to your friends while you retain a private copy on your machine.
  • Please note that only applications which address the key selection criteria will be considered.
  • In principle, the technique provides the makings of an unbreakable cryptographic key.
  • The key ingredient is limestone, mostly calcium carbonate, the remains of shelled marine creatures.
British Dictionary definitions for key

key1

/kiː/
noun
1.
a metal instrument, usually of a specifically contoured shape, that is made to fit a lock and, when rotated, operates the lock's mechanism
2.
any instrument that is rotated to operate a valve, clock winding mechanism, etc
3.
a small metal peg or wedge inserted into keyways
4.
any of a set of levers operating a typewriter, computer, etc
5.
any of the visible parts of the lever mechanism of a musical keyboard instrument that when depressed set in motion the action that causes the instrument to sound
6.
  1. Also called tonality. any of the 24 major and minor diatonic scales considered as a corpus of notes upon which a piece of music draws for its tonal framework
  2. the main tonal centre in an extended composition: a symphony in the key of F major
  3. the tonic of a major or minor scale
  4. See tuning key
7.
something that is crucial in providing an explanation or interpretation: the key to adult behaviour lies in childhood
8.
a means of achieving a desired end: the key to happiness
9.
a means of access or control: Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean
10.
a list of explanations of symbols, codes, etc
11.
a text that explains or gives information about a work of literature, art, or music
12.
Also called key move. the correct initial move in the solution of a set problem
13.
(biology) a systematic list of taxonomic characteristics, used to identify animals or plants
14.
(photog, painting) the dominant tonal value and colour intensity of a picture See also low-key (sense 3), high-key
15.
(electrical engineering)
  1. a hand-operated device for opening or closing a circuit or for switching circuits
  2. a hand-operated switch that is pressed to transmit coded signals, esp Morse code
16.
the grooving or scratching of a surface or the application of a rough coat of plaster, etc, to provide a bond for a subsequent finish
17.
pitch: he spoke in a low key
18.
a characteristic mood or style: a poem in a melancholic key
19.
level of intensity: she worked herself up to a high key
20.
(railways) a wooden wedge placed between a rail and a chair to keep the rail firmly in place
21.
a wedge for tightening a joint or for splitting stone or timber
22.
short for keystone (sense 1)
23.
(botany) any dry winged fruit, esp that of the ash
24.
(modifier) (photog) determining the tonal value of a photograph: flesh colour is an important key tone
adjective
25.
of great importance; crucial: a key issue
verb (mainly transitive)
26.
(foll by to) to harmonize (with): to key one's actions to the prevailing mood
27.
to adjust or fasten with a key or some similar device
28.
to provide with a key or keys
29.
to scratch the paintwork of (a car) with a key
30.
(often foll by up) to locate the position of (a piece of copy, artwork, etc) on a layout by the use of symbols
31.
(also intransitive) another word for keyboard (sense 3)
32.
to include a distinguishing device in (an advertisement, etc), so that responses to it can be identified
33.
to provide a keystone for (an arch)
See also key in, key up
Derived Forms
keyless, adjective
Word Origin
Old English cǣg; related to Old Frisian kēi, Middle Low German keie spear

key2

/kiː/
noun
1.
a variant spelling of cay

Key

/kiː/
noun
1.
John (Phillip). born 1961, New Zealand politician; prime minister from 2008
Word Origin and History for key
n.

"metal piece that works a lock," from Old English cæg "key," of unknown origin, with no certain cognates other than Old Frisian kei. Perhaps related to Middle Low German keie "lance, spear" on notion of "tool to cleave with," from Proto-Germanic *ki- "to cleaver, split" (cf. German Keil "wedge," Gothic us-kijans "come forth," said of seed sprouts, keinan "to germinate"). But Liberman writes, "The original meaning of *kaig-jo- was presumably '*pin with a twisted end.' Words with the root *kai- followed by a consonant meaning 'crooked, bent; twisted' are common only in the North Germanic languages." Modern pronunciation is a northern variant predominating from c.1700; earlier it was often spelled and pronounced kay.

Figurative sense of "that which serves to open or explain" was in Old English; meaning "that which holds together other parts" is from 1520s. As "answer to a test," it is from chess, short for key move, "first move in a solution to a set problem." Musical sense of "tone, note" is 15c., but modern sense of "scale" is 1580s, probably as a translation of Latin clavis or French clef (see clef; also cf. keynote). Extended c.1500 to "mechanism on a musical instrument." As a verb meaning "to scratch (a car's paint job) with a key" it is recorded by 1986.

"low island," 1690s, from Spanish cayo "shoal, reef," from Taino cayo "small island;" spelling influenced by Middle English key "wharf" (c.1300), from Old French kai "sand bank" (see quay).

key in Science
key
  (kē)   
See cay.
key in Culture

key definition


The main or central note of a piece of music (or part of a piece of music). Each key has its own scale, beginning and ending on the note that defines the octave of the next scale. The key of C-major uses a scale that starts on C and uses only the white keys of the piano. In a piece composed in the key of C, the music is likely to end on the note C, and certain combinations of notes based on C will predominate.

Slang definitions & phrases for key

key 1

adjective
  1. Essential; crucial: U.S. commitment and pressure are key to what happens next/ The attendance of cute guys at this party is key (1980s+)
  2. Excellent; splendid; fresh, killer, awesome (1980s+ Students)
noun
  1. A typical Ivy League student; white shoe (1950s+ College students)
  2. The area on the court legal for free throws: Best way to choose a nominee? ''Personally,'' said Bradley, ''I favor a jump shot from the top of the key''/ knocked home a 19-footer from the top of the key (1990s+ Basketball)
verb

To vandalize a car by scratching it with a key: Well, did you key her car? (1980s+)

Related Terms

church key


key 2

noun

A kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of a narcotic: enough opium to produce a key (kilo) of heroin/ Anybody who can handle a key of pure coke is dealing big

[Narcotics; fr kilo]


key in Technology

1. A value used to identify a record in a database, derived by applying some fixed function to the record. The key is often simply one of the fields (a column if the database is considered as a table with records being rows, see "key field"). Alternatively the key may be obtained by applying some function, e.g. a hash function, to one or more of the fields. The set of keys for all records forms an index. Multiple indexes may be built for one database depending on how it is to be searched.
2. A value which must be fed into the algorithm used to decode an encrypted message in order to reproduce the original plain text. Some encryption schemes use the same (secret) key to encrypt and decrypt a message, but public key encryption uses a "private" (secret) key and a "public" key which is known by all parties.
3. An electromechanical keyboard button.
(2003-07-04)
key in the Bible

frequently mentioned in Scripture. It is called in Hebrew _maphteah_, i.e., the opener (Judg. 3:25); and in the Greek New Testament _kleis_, from its use in shutting (Matt. 16:19; Luke 11:52; Rev. 1:18, etc.). Figures of ancient Egyptian keys are frequently found on the monuments, also of Assyrian locks and keys of wood, and of a large size (comp. Isa. 22:22). The word is used figuratively of power or authority or office (Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7; Rev. 1:8; comp. 9:1; 20:1; comp. also Matt. 16:19; 18:18). The "key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52; comp. Matt. 23:13) is the means of attaining the knowledge regarding the kingdom of God. The "power of the keys" is a phrase in general use to denote the extent of ecclesiastical authority.

Idioms and Phrases with key

key

In addition to the idiom beginning with
key
also see: