key

[key]

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)

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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.

Noun
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock''s mechanism can be rotated

Noun
a lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed

Noun
the central building block at the top of an arch or vault

Noun
mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)

Noun
pitch of the voice; "he spoke in a low key"

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Noun
something crucial for explaining; "the key to development is economic integration"

Noun
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"

Noun
a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations

Noun
a list of answers to a test; "some students had stolen the key to the final exam"

Noun
any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music

Noun
(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"; "he dominates play in the paint"

Noun
a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida

Noun
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)

Noun
a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple

Noun
a kilogram of a narcotic drug; "they were carrying two keys of heroin"

Verb
harmonize with or adjust to; "key one''s actions to the voters'' prevailing attitude"

Verb
regulate the musical pitch of

Verb
identify as in botany or biology, for example

Verb
vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key; "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot"

Verb
provide with a key; "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building"

Adjective S.
serving as an essential component; "a cardinal rule"; "the central cause of the problem"; "an example that was fundamental to the argument"; "computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure"

Adjective S.
effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"


n.
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.

n.
An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc.

n.
That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it; as, a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter.

n.
A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem.

n.
That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position.

n.
A piece of wood used as a wedge.

n.
The last board of a floor when laid down.

n.
A keystone.

n.
That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.

n.
A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock.

n.
A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing, being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank, pulley, etc.

n.
An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also key fruit.

n.
A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key.

n.
The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote.

n.
Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.

v. t.
To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.


Key

Key , n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. cg.] 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. 2. An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc. 3. That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it; as, a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter. 4. A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem.
Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books.
Who keeps the keys of all the creeds.
5. That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position. 6. (Arch.) (a) A piece of wood used as a wedge. (b) The last board of a floor when laid down. 7. (Masonry) (a) A keystone. (b) That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place. 8. (Mach.) (a) A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock. See Illusts. of Cotter, and Gib. (b) A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing, being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank, pulley, etc. 9. (Bot.) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also key fruit. 10. (Mus.) (a) A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key. (b) The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote.
Both warbling of one song, both in one key.
11. Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
You fall at once into a lower key.
Key bed. Same as Key seat. -- Key bolt, a bolt which has a mortise near the end, and is secured by a cotter or wedge instead of a nut. Key bugle. See Kent bugle. -- Key of a position ∨ country. (Mil.) See Key, 4. -- Key seat (Mach.), a bed or groove to receive a key which prevents one part from turning on the other. -- Key way, a channel for a key, in the hole of a piece which is keyed to a shaft; an internal key seat; -- called also key seat. -- Key wrench (Mach.), an adjustable wrench in which the movable jaw is made fast by a key. -- Power of the keys (Eccl.), the authority claimed by the ministry in some Christian churches to administer the discipline of the church, and to grant or withhold its privileges; -- so called from the declaration of Christ, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Matt. xvi. 19.

Key

Key , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Keved ; p. pr. & vb. n. Keying.] To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges. Francis. To key up. (a) (Arch.) To raise (the whole ring of an arch) off its centering, by driving in the keystone forcibly. (b) (Mus.) To raise the pitch of. (c) Hence, fig., to produce nervous tension in.

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.

To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.

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Usage Examples

A systemic cleansing and detox is definitely the way to go after each holiday. It is the key to fighting high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and other health-related illnesses.

And so I think that if the person has the funds, the network, and the equipment to do this, and also the experience, which is the key factor, then they can be quite deadly.

A loving family provides the foundation children need to succeed, and strong families with a man and a woman - bonded together for life - always have been, and always will be, the key to such families.

A romantic comedy has to be funny and make you think about life but the obstacle that has to be overcome is key.

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success.

Being a Hot Mom means being respected as a mom and a woman. And, the key to being a Hot Mom is having a sense of humor about yourself and all the crazy situations that arise.

And for my family, comedically, that was the key to a lot of the humor.

A key to keeping your husband is getting him to miss you. That keeps a marriage fresh.

Misspelled Form

key, jkey, ikey, okey, lkey, mkey, jey, iey, oey, ley, mey, kjey, kiey, koey, kley, kmey, kwey, k3ey, k4ey, krey, ksey, kdey, kwy, k3y, k4y, kry, ksy, kdy, kewy, ke3y, ke4y, kery, kesy, kedy, kety, ke6y, ke7y, keuy, kehy, ket, ke6, ke7, keu, keh, keyt, key6, key7, keyu, keyh.

Other Usage Examples

And you have a record company behind it, this is a key too, you need people to fight for your records, at least a little bit. So if you have a great song, it's catchy, and you've got a little bit of help, I think that's all you need. But there hasn't been that in music.

As parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts we need to start getting out into nature with the young people in our lives. Families play a key role in getting kids outside.

At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents.

At the risk of sounding hopelessly romantic, love is the key element. I really love to play with different musicians who come from different cultural backgrounds.

A key to strengthening spiritual muscles and enduring hardship is finding strength in the Word of God.

Action is the foundational key to all success.

Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.

Above all, I would teach him to tell the truth Truth-telling, I have found, is the key to responsible citizenship. The thousands of criminals I have seen in 40 years of law enforcement have had one thing in common: Every single one was a liar.

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