key🔊

(Q132041)An object designed to open and close a lock.

An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.

A crucial step or requirement.

A small guide explaining symbols or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart.

A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.

(computing) One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.

(music)

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.

(music) 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.

(figurative) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.

(advertising) A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.

(botany) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.

(historical) A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.

(cryptography) (cryptography) A piece of information (e.g., a (password) or (passphrase)) used to encode or decode a message or messages.

(internet) A password restricting access to an IRC channel.

(databases) In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).

(computing) A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.

(basketball) 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.

(biology) A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.

(architecture) A piece of wood used as a wedge.

(architecture) The last board of a floor when laid down.

(masonry) A keystone.

That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.

(rail transport) A wooden wedge, driven sideways between a bullhead rail and a cast-iron chair, to keep the rail securely in position.

The degree of roughness, or retention ability of a surface to have applied a liquid such as paint, or glue.

(cartomancy) The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck.

(print and film) The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK.

(television) A color to be masked or made transparent.

Indispensable, supremely important.

Important, salient.

To fit {{gl|a lock}} with a key.

To fit {{gl|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.

(telegraphy and radio telegraphy) To depress (a telegraph key).

(radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).

(computing) (''more usually'' to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.

(colloquial) 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).

(taxonomy) 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 {{gloss|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.

(chromakey).

(small island) One of a string of small islands.

(kilogram) (slang) A kilogram, especially of a recreational drug.

(quay)