Key

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents

English

Etymology

Old English cǣġ.

Pronunciation

  • kē, /kiː/, /ki:

Homophones

Noun

Key (plural Keys)

  1. An object designed to open and close a lock.
  2. An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain the orientation between them.
  3. A crucial step or requirement.
    the key to solving this problem...
    the key to winning this game
  4. One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, most of which generally correspond to a particular letter of the alphabet, numeral, or special symbol.
    Press the Escape key.
  5. One of a number of rectangular moving parts on a piano or musical keyboard, each causing a particular sound or note to be produced.
  6. A scale of musical notes on which a composition is based
    The key of B-flat major
  7. A device used to transmit Morse code.
  8. (cryptography) A piece of information (e.g. a passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
  9. (computing{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}): In a database, a field of a relation constrained to be unique.
  10. (computing{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}): In a database, a field in a record that is used as a search argument (but is not necessarily unique).
  11. (computing{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}): A value that uniquely identifies an entry in an associative array.
  12. (basketball): The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the freethrow line, the freethrow lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole.
    He shoots from the top of the key.
  13. (also cay) One of a string of small islands.
    "the Florida Keys"
  14. A small guide explaining the symbols or terminology of a document.
    The key says that A stands for the accounting department.

Translations

device designed to open and close a lock

object used to maintain the orientation between two others

crucial step

button on a typewriter or computer keyboard

part of a piano or musical keyboard

scale of musical notes

device used to transmit Morse code

cryptography: piece of information used to encode or decode

computing: field of a database constrained to be unique

computing: field in a record used as a search argument

computing: value uniquely identifying entry in associative array

in basketball

small island

small guide explaining symbols or terminology

Translations to be checked

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Adjective

key

  1. Indispensable.
    a key player
    He is the key witness.
  2. Important, salient.
    She makes several key points

Transitive verb

to key (third-person singular simple present keys, present participle keying, simple past keyed, past participle keyed)

  1. To fit (a lock) with a key.
  2. To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
  3. (telegraphy and radio telegraphy) To depress (a telegraph key).
  4. (radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
  5. (computing{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}): (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
    Key in your user ID.

fit (a lock) with a key

fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key

telegraphy: depress (a telegraph key)

radio: operate (transmitter switch of a two-way radio)

computing: enter (information)

Derived terms

See also


Kurdish

Soranî Kurdish

Adverb

key

  1. whenes:key

fr:key io:key it:key ku:key hu:key nl:key pl:key ru:key sr:key fi:key sv:key ta:key zh:key

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