- An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed).
An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed).
- A card or fob that electronically signals a lock to open.
- A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.figuratively
- A password restricting access to an IRC channel.Internet
- A key bump (A portion of a recreational drug in powdered form that is snorted from a key or similar small object.)slang
- Any of various tools comparable to a wrench (spanner) or driver, which have a specialized end that matches a fixture, analogously to a lock's key.
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 cotter pin.
- A piece of wood used as a wedge.
- The last board of a floor when laid down.
- A keystone.
- That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and that holds the rest in place.
- A wooden wedge, driven sideways between a bullhead rail and a cast-iron chair, to keep the rail securely in position.
- A crucial step or requirement.figuratively
A crucial step or requirement.
- An idea, theory or observation that explains, justifies or renders (something) comprehensible.broadly, figuratively
- A deciding factor.figuratively
Senses relating to a guide that identifies information.
- A small guide explaining symbols, abbreviations or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart.
- A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
- A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon; a taxonomic key.
- A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.
- In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
Senses relating to a set of features that modify the output of a device.
- One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.
- 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.
- A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
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.
- The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.figuratively
A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition. / The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
- A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.broadly, figuratively
Senses of items with visual similarity to a key or group of keys on a keyring.
- An item of decor shaped like a key.
- An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.
- 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.
- The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck, which features an image of a key.
Senses related to colors.
- The overall color tone of a painting or other visual art, with a high key indicating generally light colors and a low key indicating generally dark colors.
- The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK.
- A color to be masked or made transparent.
- A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.historical
- The degree of roughness, or the ability of a surface to retain an applied liquid, such as paint or glue.
- One of a string of small islands.
- A kilogram, especially of a recreational drug.slang
- A key position player (a tall forward or defender).
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