Definition of Key way. Meaning of Key way. Synonyms of Key way
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Definition of Key way
Key way Key Key (k[=e]), n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. c[ae]g.]
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. --Locke.
Who keeps the keys of all the creeds. --Tennyson.
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.
--Shak.
11. Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or
utterance.
You fall at once into a lower key. --Cowper.
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 or 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.
