key
/ki/noun, verb, adjective1 syllable
Key means: serving as an essential component.
Synonyms for key27
noun, as in a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple
noun, as in a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
noun, as in the central building block at the top of an arch or vault
noun, as in 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)
noun, as in any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music
noun, as in (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
noun, as in mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)
verb, as in identify as in botany or biology, for example
adjective, as in serving as an essential component
also used for key
Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What does key mean?21
adjective
serving as an essential component“a cardinal rule”
verb
identify as in botany or biology, for example
provide with a key“We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building”
vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key“His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot”
regulate the musical pitch of
harmonize with or adjust to“key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude”
noun
a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple
a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
the central building block at the top of an arch or vault
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)
any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music
(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”
mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
something crucial for explaining“the key to development is economic integration”
pitch of the voice“he spoke in a low key”
a kilogram of a narcotic drug“they were carrying two keys of heroin”
a list of answers to a test“some students had stolen the key to the final exam”
a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations
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”
a lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed
Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
What rhymes with key?60
three syllables
Show 40 near rhymes
Key in a sentence
- Perseverance, as you know, is the key to success.Zifre
- Perseverance, it is often said, is the key to success.CM
- You enter, with the key word being a requirement.gleki
- I don't know how, but they got a duplicate key.astyng
- Needless to say, diligence is a key to happiness.LittleBoy
- That wouldn't happen to be my key, would it?CK
- I am giving you the key to the house, but don’t lose it.unknown
- If you don't have this key, you won't be able to get in.CK
Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.
Forms of key
as a noun
- plural
- keys
as a verb
- past tense
- keyed
- present participle
- keying
- third-person singular
- keys
- past participle
- keyed
as a adjective
- comparative
- keyer
- superlative
- keyest