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| key [ kee ] |
noun (plural keys) |
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| Definition: |
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1. instrument for locking: a metal bar with notches or grooves that, when inserted into a lock and turned, operates the lock's mechanism
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2. door or lock opener: a device that operates a door or lock, e.g. a plastic card with an encoded magnetic strip
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3. music instrument feature: the levers on a keyboard instrument that sound a note when pressed, or the metal buttons on a woodwind instrument that alter a note's pitch
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4. music musical scale: a system of related notes in a scale beginning on a particular note
  in the key of E
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5. instrument for winding up: a fitted tool that is turned repeatedly to wind up, set, or calibrate a mechanism
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6. means: a way or means of achieving something
Continuity of effort is the key to success.
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7. important aspect: the aspect of something that, once understood, provides a full understanding or explanation of the whole
The key to this riddle lies in the subtle meanings of the words used.
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8. strategic place: a place that is strategically vital in gaining access to or controlling a larger area
Istanbul is the key to the Bosporus.
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9. list of answers: a list of the answers to a test or exercise
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10. keyboard button: a button on a typewriter's or computer's keyboard or keypad that performs an operation when pressed
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11. electrical engineering device for operating circuits: a small manual device for opening, closing, or switching circuits
a telegraph key
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12. basketball area at end of basketball court: the area at the ends of a basketball court between the base line and the foul line
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13. music main note of scale: the note on which a musical scale begins
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14. music tonal center: the relationship between the notes of a scale and the scale's main note
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15. arts mood of art work: the general mood or style of a work of art, literature, or music
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16. pitch or quality: the pitch or quality of an expressive sound, especially the voice
answered in thoughtful key
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17. maps explanatory list: an explanatory list of the symbols or abbreviations used on a map or diagram
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18. communication cryptographic feature: in cryptography, the sequence of symbols or characters that defines the makeup of an encoding mechanism
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19. arts explanatory text: a text that provides additional information on or an explanation of a work of literature, art, or music
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20. engineering metal pin: a metal wedge or pin used to lock together two structural or mechanical components such as a shaft and a hub to prevent movement relative to each other
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21. comput database feature: a field in a database record that uniquely identifies that record
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22. architecture
Same as keystone (sense 1)
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23. biology outline of characteristics: an outline of the characteristics of an organism, used for taxonomic identification
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24. photog graphic arts image feature: the tonal value of an image with regard to lightness, darkness, or color intensity
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25. construction surface preparation: the process of preparing a surface, usually by making it rough or grooved, so that paint or some other finish will stick to it
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26. winged fruit: a dry winged fruit like that of an ash or sycamore tree, usually growing in bunches.
Technical name samara
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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crucial: vital in achieving understanding or success
the key points in the report
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verb (past and past participle keyed, present participle key·ing, 3rd person present singular keys) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb comput type: to use the keyboard of a computer, or input data using it
keyed for a solid hour
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2. transitive verb lock something: to lock or adjust something with a key
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3. transitive verb provide something with explanation: to provide something with an explanatory list or text
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4. transitive verb music regulate instrument's pitch: to regulate the pitch of a musical instrument
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5. transitive verb adapt something: to bring something in line with or make something consistent with something else
(
often passive
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We want these ads keyed to an upscale clientele.
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6. transitive verb printing mark something for correct reproduction: to mark artwork, or anything to be reproduced, with symbols that will allow different parts to be correctly aligned for reproduction
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7. transitive verb construction lock arch with keystone: to provide an arch with a keystone
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8. transitive verb biology identify something: to identify an organism or specimen
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| [ Old English cǣg, origin ?] |
