Key

Quick meaning: Key is a noun meaning (countable) An object designed to open and close a lock.

Meaning

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

More Meanings

1. An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
2. A crucial step or requirement.
3. A small guide explaining symbols or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart.
4. A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
5. (computing) One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.
6. In musical instruments, one of the valve levers used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind.
7. 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.

Example Sentences

the key to winning a game

who keeps the keys of all the creeds

Some students cheated by using the answer key.

The key to solving this problem is persistence.

Word Forms

• keys
• keyer
• keyest
• keying
• keyed
• keye

Synonyms for key

Depending on context, synonyms include kay, significant, cardinal, fundamental, important, operative.

Antonyms for key

Common opposites include atonality, atonalism.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include winder, kilo, kilogram, central, discover, operative.

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