Definition:
- (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.
Compare key with other words:
key vs. knob
key vs. main
kex vs. key
key vs. ney
kee vs. key
ket vs. key
fey vs. key
key vs. ley
dey vs. key
bey vs. key
key vs. wey
keg vs. key
ken vs. key
hey vs. key
key vs. primal
key vs. principle
determining vs. key
cat vs. key
key vs. keyseat
delete vs. key
insert vs. key
key vs. shift
key vs. keyway
chorded vs. key
key vs. wedge
key vs. napkin
key vs. priority
key vs. mobile
gallant vs. key
focus vs. key
key vs. quay
key vs. kite
chief vs. key
key vs. oak
key vs. peninsula
decisive vs. key
clue vs. key
essential vs. key
dock vs. key
critical vs. key
button vs. key
key vs. metaphysic
enharmonic vs. key
key vs. tasto
key vs. solfeggio
bitting vs. key
key vs. latchkey
key vs. sonata
clavichord vs. key
key vs. wrench
key vs. lanyard
key vs. tonality
key vs. temperament
key vs. pivotal
key vs. pause
home vs. key
end vs. key
key vs. transposer
key vs. modulate
key vs. unlock
key vs. tab
key vs. sticker
key vs. winder
key vs. stump
key vs. transpose
key vs. signature
key vs. rackett
indices vs. key
key vs. pity
key vs. peck
key vs. wrest
key vs. rank
key vs. turnkey
key vs. pad
clavis vs. key
key vs. relative
key vs. ward
key vs. transposition
drop vs. key
key vs. symmetric
asymmetric vs. key
key vs. tilde
escape vs. key
key vs. trio
key vs. trailer
cryptology vs. key
cornet vs. key
key vs. note
cay vs. key
identified vs. key
key vs. link
key vs. vandalize
key vs. scratch
enter vs. key
key vs. telegraphy
key vs. membership
class vs. key
key vs. symbol
indicate vs. key
key vs. mark
key vs. salient
important vs. key
clef vs. key
key vs. keystone
key vs. keyhole
key vs. keynote
key vs. kilogram
identify vs. key
key vs. logical
key vs. organize
key vs. table
key vs. unique
field vs. key
decode vs. key
key vs. switch
electrical vs. key
key vs. scale
hole vs. key
character vs. key
key vs. piano
key vs. text
key vs. legend
crucial vs. key
key vs. orientation
key vs. shaft
key vs. wheel
card vs. key
bucket vs. key
island vs. key
action vs. key
adjunct vs. key
key vs. keyboard
key vs. trumpet
index vs. key
key vs. lock
gold vs. key