Sekirov Dictionary

key

/kiː/

noun43

  1. a small piece of metal cut to fit a lock and turned to open or close it
  2. A card or fob that electronically signals a lock to open.
  3. 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.
  4. (figurative) A crucial step or requirement.
  5. (figurative) A deciding factor.
  6. One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.
  7. In musical instruments, one of the valve levers used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind.
  8. 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.
  9. A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.
  10. A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
  11. In musical theory, the total melodic and harmonic relations, which exist between the tones of an ideal scale, major or minor; tonality.
  12. 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.
  13. (figurative) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
  14. A small guide explaining symbols, abbreviations or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart.
  15. (figurative) An idea, theory or observation that explains, justifies or renders (something) comprehensible.
  16. (figurative) A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
  17. (Internet) A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
  18. A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
  19. A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.
  20. In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
  21. One of a string of small islands.
  22. (slang) A kilogram, especially of a recreational drug.
  23. 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.
  24. An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
  25. A cotter pin.
  26. A piece of wood used as a wedge.
  27. The last board of a floor when laid down.
  28. A keystone.
  29. That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and that holds the rest in place.
  30. A wooden wedge, driven sideways between a bullhead rail and a cast-iron chair, to keep the rail securely in position.
  31. In musical notation, a sign at the head of a staff indicating the musical key.
  32. The lowest note of a scale; keynote.
  33. The degree of roughness, or the ability of a surface to retain an applied liquid, such as paint or glue.
  34. An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.
  35. The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK.
  36. (slang) A key bump (A portion of a recreational drug in powdered form that is snorted from a key or similar small object.)
  37. 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.
  38. A color to be masked or made transparent.
  39. A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon; a taxonomic key.
  40. A key position player (a tall forward or defender).
  41. An item of decor shaped like a key.
  42. (figurative) A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.
  43. The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck, which features an image of a key.

verb15

  1. (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
  2. (informal) To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.
  3. To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
  4. To link (as one might do with a key or legend).
  5. To attune to; to set at; to pitch.
  6. To modify (an advertisement) so as to target a particular group or demographic.
  7. Clipping of chromakey.
  8. To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
  9. To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
  10. 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).
  11. To provide an arch with a keystone.
  12. To depress (a telegraph key).
  13. To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
  14. To fit (a lock) with a key.
  15. To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.

adjective2

  1. Indispensable, supremely important.
  2. Important, salient.
forms

keyed · keying · keys · keyer · more key · keyest · most key

Phrases with key

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