HOW TO PRONOUNCE
key
/ki/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does key mean?
noun
- An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed).
- A card or fob that electronically signals a lock to open.
- (figuratively) A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
More meanings (58)
noun
- A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
- (slang) A key bump (A portion of a recreational drug in powdered form that is snorted from a key or similar small object.)
- Any of various tools comparable to a wrench (spanner) or driver, which have a specialized end that matches a fixture, analogously to a lock's key.
- A cotter pin.
- 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 that 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.
- (figuratively) A crucial step or requirement.
- (figuratively) An idea, theory or observation that explains, justifies or renders (something) comprehensible.
- (figuratively) A deciding factor.
- A small guide explaining symbols, abbreviations or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart.
- A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
- A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon; a taxonomic key.
- A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.
- In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
- 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.
- The lowest note of a scale; keynote.
- In musical theory, the total melodic and harmonic relations, which exist between the tones of an ideal scale, major or minor; tonality.
- 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.
- In musical notation, a sign at the head of a staff indicating the musical key.
- (figuratively) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
- (figuratively) A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.
- An item of decor shaped like a key.
- An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.
- 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.
- The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck, which features an image of a key.
- The overall color tone of a painting or other visual art, with a high key indicating generally light colors and a low key indicating generally dark colors.
- 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 degree of roughness, or the ability of a surface to retain an applied liquid, such as paint or glue.
- One of a string of small islands.
- (slang) A kilogram, especially of a recreational drug.
- Alternative form of quay.
- A key position player (a tall forward or defender).
- (historical) A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.
adjective
- Indispensable, supremely important.
- Important, salient.
verb
- 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.
proper noun
- A surname.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ki/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Now, as Becky was passing by the desk, which stood near the door, she noticed that the key was in the lock!
He left his cell at the head of the party, and, having carefully locked the door, deposited the key under the threshold.
More book examples (3)
There was a few minutes’ interval, and then the key turned in the lock, the door opened, and Eustacia herself confronted him.
“No. Used a duplicate key. To-day I heard there was a man here last night. I want to nose around a little.”
“Never mind,” murmured the masked man who carried the big key, in the voice of a ventriloquist, “he’s a tough old fellow.”