Definition of key. Meaning of key. Synonyms of key

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word key. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word key and, of course, key synonyms and on the right images related to the word key.

Definition of key

Key
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.
Key
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.
Key
Key Key, n. A simplified version or analysis which accompanies something as a clue to its explanation, a book or table containing the solutions to problems, ciphers, allegories, or the like, or a table or synopsis of conspicuous distinguishing characters of members of a taxonomic group.
Key
Key Key, n. (Teleg.) A metallic lever by which the circuit of the sending or transmitting part of a station equipment may be easily and rapidly opened and closed; any device for closing or opening an electric circuit.
key
Space bar Space bar or key key (Mach.) A bar or key, in a typewriter or typesetting machine, used for spacing between letters.
key
Quay Quay, n. [F. quai. See Key quay.] A mole, bank, or wharf, formed toward the sea, or at the side of a harbor, river, or other navigable water, for convenience in loading and unloading vessels. [Written also key.]
key
Cotter Cot"ter (k[o^]t"t[~e]r), n. 1. A piece of wood or metal, commonly wedge-shaped, used for fastening together parts of a machine or structure. It is driven into an opening through one or all of the parts. Note: [See Illust.] In the United States a cotter is commonly called a key. 2. A toggle.

Meaning of key from wikipedia

- Look up key or Keys in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Key, Keys, The Key ot The Keys may refer to: Key (cryptography), a piece of information needed...
- In Western musical notation, a key signature is a set of sharp (♯), flat (♭), or rarely, natural (♮) symbols placed on the staff at the beginning of a...
- A hex key (also, hex wrench, Allen key and Allen wrench or Inbus) is a simple driver for bolts or ****s that have heads with internal hexagonal recesses...
- The KeY tool is used in formal verification of Java programs. It accepts specifications written in the Java Modeling Language to Java source files. These...
- of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it constitutes the City of Key West. The island of Key West is about...
- Chroma key compositing, or chroma keying, is a visual-effects and post-production technique for compositing (layering) two or more images or video streams...
- Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He and Jordan Peele co-created and co-starred in...
- In music theory, the key of a piece is the group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a musical composition in Western classical music, art music...
- The Florida Keys are a coral cay archipelago off the southern coast of Florida, forming the southernmost part of the continental United States. They begin...
- Key & Peele (abbreviated to K&P) is an American sketch comedy television series created by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele for Comedy Central. Both...