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What does KEY mean?

Definitions for KEY
kikey

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word KEY.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. keynoun

    metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

  2. keynoun

    something crucial for explaining

    "the key to development is economic integration"

  3. keynoun

    pitch of the voice

    "he spoke in a low key"

  4. key, tonalitynoun

    any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music

  5. keynoun

    a kilogram of a narcotic drug

    "they were carrying two keys of heroin"

  6. samara, key fruit, keynoun

    a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple

  7. Key, Francis Scott Keynoun

    United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843)

  8. key, cay, Florida keynoun

    a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida

  9. key, paintnoun

    (basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court

    "he hit a jump shot from the top of the key"; "he dominates play in the paint"

  10. keynoun

    a list of answers to a test

    "some students had stolen the key to the final exam"

  11. keynoun

    a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations

  12. keynoun

    a generic term for any device whose possession entitles the holder to a means of access

    "a safe-deposit box usually requires two keys to open it"

  13. winder, keynoun

    mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)

  14. keystone, key, headstonenoun

    the central building block at the top of an arch or vault

  15. keyadjective

    a lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed

  16. cardinal, central, fundamental, key, primalverb

    serving as an essential component

    "a cardinal rule"; "the central cause of the problem"; "an example that was fundamental to the argument"; "computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure"

  17. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, nameverb

    identify as in botany or biology, for example

  18. keyverb

    provide with a key

    "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building"

  19. keyverb

    vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key

    "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot"

  20. keyverb

    regulate the musical pitch of

  21. keyverb

    harmonize with or adjust to

    "key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude"

GCIDE

  1. Keynoun

    any device for closing or opening an electric circuit, especially as part of a keyboard, as that used at a computer terminal or teletype terminal.

  2. Keynoun

    (Computers) A word or other combination of symbols which serves as an index identifying and pointing to a particular record, file, or location which can be retrieved and displayed by a computer program; as, a database using multi-word keys. When the key is a word, it is also called a keyword.

  3. Keynoun

    One of a set of small movable parts on an instrument or machine which, by being depressed, serves as the means of operating it; the complete set of keys is usually called the keyboard; as, the keys of a piano, an organ, an accordion, a computer keyboard, or of a typewriter. The keys may operate parts of the instrument by a mechanical action, as on a piano, or by closing an electrical circuit, as on a computer keyboard. See also senses 12 and 13.

  4. Keyverb

    (Computers) To enter (text, data) using keys, especially those on a keyboard; to keyboard; as, to key the data in by hand.

  5. Keyverb

    To adjust so as to be maximally effective in a particular situation; -- of actions, plans, or speech; as, to key one's campaign speech to each local audience.

  6. Keyverb

    To furnish with a key or keys.

  7. keyadjective

    Essential; most important; as, the key fact in the inquiry; the president was the key player inthe negotiations.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. KEYnoun

    Etymology: cœg, Saxon.

    If a man were porter of hellgate, he should have old turning the key. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

    Fortune, that arrant whore,
    Ne’er turns the key to th’ poor. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

    Poor key cold figure of a holy king!
    Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster. William Shakespeare, Rich. III.

    The glorious standard last to heav’n they spread,
    With Peter’s keys ennobled and his crown. Edward Fairfax.

    Yet some there be, that by due steps aspire
    To lay their just hands on that golden key,
    That opes the palace of eternity. John Milton.

    Conscience is its own counsellor, the sole master of its own secrets; and it is the privilege of our nature, that every man should keep the key of his own breast. Robert South, Sermons.

    He came, and knocking thrice, without delay
    The longing lady heard, and turn’d the key. Dryden.

    I keep her in one room, I lock it;
    The key, look here, is in this pocket. Matthew Prior.

    Hide the key of the jack. Jonathan Swift.

    An emblem without a key to’t, is no more than a tale of a tub. Roger L'Estrange.

    These notions, in the writings of the ancients darkly delivered, receive a clearer light when compared with this theory, which represents every thing plainly, and is a key to their thoughts. Thomas Burnet, Theory of the Earth.

    Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books. John Locke.

    Pamela loves to handle the spinnet, and touch the keys. Pam.

    Hippolita, I woo’d thee with my sword,
    And won thy love, doing thee injuries;
    But I will wed thee in another key,
    With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. William Shakespeare.

    But speak you with a sad brow? Or do you play the flouting Jack? Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song? William Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing.

    Not know my voice! Oh, time’s extremity!
    Hast thou so crack’d and splitted my poor tongue
    In sev’n short years, that here my only son
    Knows not my feeble key of untun’d cares? William Shakespeare.

    A key of fire ran along the shore,
    And lighten’d all the river with a blaze. Dryden.

ChatGPT

  1. key

    A key is a piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, used to open or close it. In a figurative sense, it serves as an essential element to unlocking, understanding or solving something, or as an important, principal component in a system or plan. In the field of music, it refers to the group of pitches or scale that forms the basis of a music composition, while in fields related to information technology, it denotes a piece of information used to control the operation of an algorithm or a device.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Keynoun

    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. Keynoun

    an instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc

  3. Keynoun

    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. Keynoun

    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

  5. Keynoun

    that part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position

  6. Keynoun

    a piece of wood used as a wedge

  7. Keynoun

    the last board of a floor when laid down

  8. Keynoun

    a keystone

  9. Keynoun

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

  10. Keynoun

    a wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock

  11. Keynoun

    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

  12. Keynoun

    an indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; -- called also key fruit

  13. Keynoun

    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

  14. Keynoun

    the fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote

  15. Keynoun

    fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance

  16. Keyverb

    to fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges

  17. Etymology: [OE. keye, key, kay, AS. cg.]

Wikidata

  1. Key

    Key is a Japanese visual novel studio which formed on July 21, 1998 as a brand under the publisher Visual Art's and is located in Kita, Osaka, Japan. Key released their debut visual novel Kanon in June 1999, which combined an elaborate storyline, an up-to-date anime-style drawing style, and a musical score which helped to set the mood for the game. Key's second game Air released in September 2000 had a similar if not more complex storyline to Kanon and a more thorough gameplay. Both Kanon and Air were originally produced as adult games, but Key broke this trend with their third title Clannad which was released in April 2004 for all ages. Key has worked in the past with Interchannel and Prototype for the consumer port releases of the brand's games. Key collaborated with ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine to produce the mixed media project Angel Beats!, which was produced into an anime TV series in 2010. The brand's ninth game Rewrite was released in June 2011, and a fan disc for the game titled Rewrite Harvest festa! was released in July 2012. Co-founder Jun Maeda is a prominent figure in the brand, he having contributed on the planning, scenario, and music composition in the majority of Key's visual novels. Itaru Hinoue, also a co-founder, is Key's main artist and was the art director for Key's first three games. Na-Ga, another prominent artist in the brand, mainly worked with background art in earlier games, but with Key's sixth game Little Busters! was given the position of co-art director with Hinoue. Shinji Orito, Key's main composer and another co-founder, has composed music for the majority of Key's titles. Yūto Tonokawa, a scenario writer, first worked on the scenario in Little Busters!.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Key

    kē, n. an instrument for shutting or opening a lock: that by which something is screwed or turned: the middle stone of an arch: a piece of wood let into another piece crosswise to prevent warping: (mus.) one of the small levers in musical instruments for producing notes: the fundamental note of a piece of music: that which explains a mystery: a book containing answers to exercises, &c.—ns. Key′board, the keys or levers in a piano or organ arranged along a flat board; Key′-bū′gle, a bugle with keys, having a compass of two octaves including semitones.—adjs. Key′-cold (Shak.), cold as a key, lifeless; Keyed, furnished with keys, as a musical instrument: set to a particular key, as a tune.—ns. Key′hole, the hole in which a key of a door, &c., is inserted; Key′note, the key or fundamental note of a piece of music; any central principle or controlling thought; Key′-pin, the pivot on which a pipe-key turns: a pin serving as fulcrum for a key of an organ, &c.; Key′-plate, the escutcheon around a keyhole; Key′ring, a ring for holding a bunch of keys; Key′-seat, a groove for receiving a key, to prevent one piece of machinery from turning on another; Key′stone, the stone at the apex of an arch: the chief element in any system.—Have the key of the street (coll.), to be locked out: to be homeless; Power of the keys, the power to loose and bind, to administer ecclesiastical discipline—a special authority conferred by Christ on Peter (Matt. xvi. 19), or Peter in conjunction with the other apostles, and claimed by the popes as the alleged successors to St Peter. Others explain it as belonging only to the apostles themselves, as descending to the bishops and clergy of the Christian Church, or as belonging to all Christ's disciples alike. [A.S. cæg, a key.]

  2. Key

    kē, n. (Dryden). Same as Quay.

  3. Key

    kē, n. a low island near the coast.—Also Cay.

The Standard Electrical Dictionary

  1. Key

    A switch adapted for making and breaking contact easily when worked by hand, as a Morse telegraph key.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. key

    In ship-building, means a dry piece of oak or elm, cut tapering, to drive into scarphs that have hook-butts, to wedge deck-planks, or to join any pieces of wood tightly to each other. Iron forelocks.

  2. key

    [derived from the Spanish cayos, rocks]. What in later years have been so termed will be found in the old Spanish charts as cayos. The term was introduced to us by the buccaneers as small insular spots with a scant vegetation; without the latter they are merely termed sand-banks. Key is especially used in the West Indies, and often applied to the smaller coral shoals produced by zoophytes.

  3. key

    A long wharf, usually built of stone, by the side of a harbour, and having posts and rings, cranes, and store-houses, for the convenience of merchant ships.

  4. key

    [probably from the Dutch kaayen, to haul]. A place to which ships are hauled. Knoll or head of a shoal--kaya, Malay.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. key

    In artillery carriages, is a bolt used to secure cap squares and for analogous purposes.

Rap Dictionary

  1. keynoun

    Kilo, often used in conjunction with cocaine. "Dope, like a pound or a key" -- N.W.A. (Compton's N the House).

Editors Contribution

  1. key

    I'm not sure, but isn't this: ¹ or this: * also called a key? When you're reading something that states anything, that of which is followed by a little number, (¹²³⁴, etc.) or an asterisk, (*) or has some other small symbol after it... & then you look elsewhere (usually on the bottom of the page) to find that same number or symbol, it then expands on what was said previously, where you saw the first symbol or little number. Isn't that ALSO called a key?


    Submitted by anonymous on December 26, 2020  

Suggested Resources

  1. KEY

    What does KEY stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the KEY acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Entomology

  1. Key

    a tabular or other arrangement of species, genera or other classification according to characters that serve to identify them.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. KEY

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Key is ranked #1037 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Key surname appeared 33,501 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 would have the surname Key.

    68.5% or 22,968 total occurrences were White.
    24.6% or 8,245 total occurrences were Black.
    2.6% or 874 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    2.3% or 781 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    0.9% or 332 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
    0.9% or 302 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'KEY' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1372

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'KEY' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1642

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'KEY' in Nouns Frequency: #658

  4. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'KEY' in Adjectives Frequency: #162

How to pronounce KEY?

How to say KEY in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of KEY in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of KEY in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of KEY in a Sentence

  1. Didier Casimiro:

    Tuban will be a key to cooperation between Russia and Indonesia, this is the start of a relationship.

  2. Aquarium Biologist Halley Miller:

    Like all giant Pacific octopus, The Florida Aquarium’s GPO Farallon is an extremely intelligent creature. Enrichment activities are key to optimal animal welfare as a result the professional care team provide her with a wide variety of activities from puzzles, to painting and more, this was first time we presented Farallon this activity.She was very engaged with the canvases; using her arms and suckers to push around the paint.

  3. David Rutley:

    According to The GBGB, roughly a quarter of the dogs were given new homes and 60 percent were taken into a greyhound charity. Trudy Baker, coordinator of Greyt Exploitations, a nonprofit aimed to protect greyhounds, says even when the dogs were retired, they stayed in a dangerous environment. VOLUNTEERS WORK TO RESCUE MORE THAN 500 GREYHOUNDS SET FOR CHINESE MEAT MARKET The truth is hundreds of dogs listed as retired by The GBGB still remain in a commercial environment, confined to trainers kennels that have failed to comply with an agreed British Standard Institute specification, either used for breeding, forced to routinely donate blood or simply awaiting rehoming, Trudy Baker said.No amount of ineffective window dressing welfare commitments will address the suffering and deaths of thousands of dogs racing on dangerously configured tracks. Mark Bird, the managing director at The GBGB, says the industry needs increased and sustained funding to allow welfare programs to flourish for the greyhounds. For others, transparency is key to helping the greyhounds. Transparency is key to understanding how we can improve welfare standards... We want more greyhounds to find new homes and to enjoy a healthy retirement when they leave the sport.

  4. Jan Kizilhan:

    The link between Siri and Jamil was more than that of a mother and a boy, this was a special bond because when Jamil was in great difficulty, Siri was there for him. He knew he was not alone. She was the key to his survival.

  5. Jonathan Mermin:

    We’ve shown great differences among states, especially in the South, where they are years behind the rest of the U.S. in providing key preventive services, that manifests itself in different health outcomes.

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Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for KEY

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