key

Plural: keys

Noun

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
something crucial for explaining
- "the key to development is economic integration"
pitch of the voice
- "he spoke in a low key"
any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music
a kilogram of a narcotic drug
- "they were carrying two keys of heroin"
a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple
United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843)
a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
(basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court
- "he hit a jump shot from the top of the key"
a list of answers to a test
- "some students had stolen the key to the final exam"
a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations
a generic term for any device whose possession entitles the holder to a means of access
- "a safe-deposit box usually requires two keys to open it"
mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)
the central building block at the top of an arch or vault
a lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed
An object designed to open and close a lock.
An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
A crucial step or requirement.
A small guide explaining symbols or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart.
A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.
In musical instruments, one of the valve levers used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind.
In instruments with a keyboard such as an organ or piano, one of the levers, or especially the exposed front end of it, which are depressed to cause a particular sound or note to be produced.
A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
The lowest note of a scale; keynote.
A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
In musical theory, the total melodic and harmonic relations, which exist between the tones of an ideal scale, major or minor; tonality.
A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
In musical theory and notation, the tonality centering in a given tone, or the several tones taken collectively, of a given scale, major or minor.
A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
In musical notation, a sign at the head of a staff indicating the musical key.
The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.
An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.
A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.
A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.
Any of various tools comparable to a wrench (spanner) or driver, or, in some cases, also called a wrench or driver.
A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.
A piece of wood used as a wedge.
The last board of a floor when laid down.
A keystone.
That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.
A wooden wedge, driven sideways between a bullhead rail and a cast-iron chair, to keep the rail securely in position.
The degree of roughness, or retention ability of a surface to have applied a liquid such as paint, or glue.
The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck.
The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK.
A color to be masked or made transparent.
The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line, the free-throw lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole.
A key position player (a tall forward or defender).
One of a string of small islands.
A kilogram, especially of a recreational drug.
Alternative form of quay.

Verb

Verb Forms: keyed, keying, keys

To provide or secure something with a key; to lock.
identify as in botany or biology, for example
provide with a key
- "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building"
vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key
- "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot"
regulate the musical pitch of
harmonize with or adjust to
- "key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude"
To fit (a lock) with a key.
To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
To depress (a telegraph key).
To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
(more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.
To link (as one might do with a key or legend).
To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.
To modify (an advertisement) so as to target a particular group or demographic.
To attune to; to set at; to pitch.
To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
To prepare for plastering by adding the key (that part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place).
To provide an arch with a keystone.
Clipping of chromakey.

Adjective Satellite

serving as an essential component

Adj

Indispensable, supremely important.
Important, salient.

Examples

clock key
He is the key player on his soccer team.
He keyed the car that had taken his parking spot.
He managed to KEY in a perfect word, unlocking a bonus square for his Scrabble play.
He shoots from the top of the key.
hex key
Press the Escape key.
radiator key
She makes several key points.
Some students cheated by using the answer key.
The door panel should be sanded down carefully to provide a good key for the new paint.
the Florida Keys
the key of B-flat major
The key says that A stands for the accounting department.
The key to solving this problem is persistence.
the key to winning a game
Torx key

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English keye, kaye, keiȝe, from Old English cǣġ (“key, solution, experiment”) (whence also Scots key and kay (“key”)), of uncertain origin. The only sure cognates are Saterland Frisian Koai (“key”), West Frisian kaai (“key”), and North Frisian kai, koie (“key”). Possibly from Proto-Germanic *kēgaz, *kēguz (“stake, post, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵogʰ-, *ǵegʰ-, *ǵegʰn- (“branch, stake, bush”), which would make it cognate with Middle Low German kāk (“whipping post, pillory”), and perhaps to Middle Dutch keige (“javelin, spear”) and Middle Low German keie, keige (“spear”).
For the semantic development, note that medieval keys were simply long poles (ending in a hook) with which a crossbar obstructing a door from the inside could be removed from the outside, by lifting it through a hole in the door. Liberman has noted, however, "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."

Synonyms

cardinal, cay, central, describe, discover, distinguish, Florida key, Francis Scott Key, fundamental, headstone, identify, key fruit, key out, keystone, name, paint, primal, samara, tonality, winder, kay

Antonyms

atonality

Scrabble Score: 10

key: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
key: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
key: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

key: valid Words With Friends Word