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• key
  key

  noun

  a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt.
• Key
  Key

  noun

  Francis Scott, 1780–1843, U.S. lawyer: author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

key

¹ American  

[kee] / ki /

noun

• keys
  plural

1. a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt.

2. any of various devices resembling or functioning as a key.

   the key of a clock.

3. key card.

4. something that affords a means of access.

   the key to happiness.

5. something that secures or controls entrance to a place.

   Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.

6. something that affords a means of clarifying a problem.

   Synonyms:

   pivotal, major, chief, clue, resolution, explanation, answer

7. a book, pamphlet, or other text containing the solutions or translations of material given elsewhere, as testing exercises.

8. a systematic explanation of abbreviations, symbols, etc., used in a dictionary, map, etc..

   pronunciation key.

9. the system, method, pattern, etc., used to decode or decipher a cryptogram, as a code book, machine setting, or keyword.

10. one of a set of marked parts, designated areas, or levers pressed in operating a typewriter, computer terminal, calculator, etc.

11. a manually operated lever for opening and closing an electric circuit, used to produce signals in telegraphy.

12. Music.

    1. (in a keyboard instrument) one of the levers that when depressed by the performer sets in motion the playing mechanism.

    2. (on a woodwind instrument) a metal lever that opens and closes a vent.

    3. the relationship perceived between all tones in a given unit of music and a single tone or a keynote; tonality.

    4. the principal tonality of a composition.

       a symphony in the key of C minor.

    5. the keynote or tonic of a scale.

13. tone or pitch, as of voice.

    to speak in a high key.

14. mood or characteristic style, as of expression or thought.

    He writes in a melancholy key.

15. degree of intensity, as of feeling or action.

16. a pin, bolt, wedge, or other piece inserted in a hole or space to lock or hold parts of a mechanism or structure together; a cotter.

17. a small piece of steel fitting into matching slots of a hub of a wheel or the like and the shaft on which the wheel is mounted so that torque is transmitted from one to the other.

18. a contrivance for grasping and turning a bolt, nut, etc.

19. Computers. a field or group of characters within a record that identifies the record, establishing its position among sorted records, and/or provides information about its contents.

20. (in a series of advertisements or announcements soliciting replies) a unique code inserted for each medium used, to determine the relative effectiveness of the media.

21. Electricity.

    1. a device for opening and closing electrical contacts.

    2. a hand-operated switching device ordinarily formed of concealed spring contacts with an exposed handle or push button, capable of switching one or more parts of a circuit.

22. Biology. a systematic tabular classification of the significant characteristics of the members of a group of organisms to facilitate identification and comparison.

23. Masonry. a keystone.

24. Architecture. (in a ribbed vault) a stone, as a boss, at the intersection of two or more ribs.

25. Masonry, Carpentry. a wedge, as for tightening a joint or splitting a stone or timber.

26. Carpentry. a small piece of wood set into a timber across the grain to prevent warping.

27. Building Trades. any grooving or roughness applied to a surface to improve its bond with another surface.

28. Basketball. keyhole.

29. Photography. the dominant tonal value of a picture, a high-key picture having light tonal values and minimal contrast and a low-key picture being generally dark with minimal contrast.

30. Painting. the tonal value and intensity of a color or range of colors.

    Rembrandt's colors are characterized by their low key.

31. Botany. a samara.

32. Key, a member of the House of Keys.

33. keys, spiritual authority.

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adjective

1. essential; central; important.

   a key person in the company;

   key industries.

verb (used with object)

• keys,
  present (3rd person singular)
• keyed,
  past participle,  past
• keying
  present participle

1. to regulate or adjust (actions, thoughts, speech, etc.) to a particular state or activity; bring into conformity.

   to key one's speech to the intellectual level of the audience.

2. Music. to regulate the key or pitch of.

3. Painting.

   1. to paint (a picture) in a given key.

   2. to adjust the colors in (a painting) to a particular hue.

      He keyed the painting to brown.

4. to fasten, secure, or adjust with a key, wedge, or the like, as parts of a mechanism.

5. to provide with a key.

6. (in the layout of newspapers, magazines, etc.) to identify, through signs or symbols, the positions of illustrations or pieces of copy in a dummy.

7. to lock with or as if with a key.

8. Masonry. to provide (an arch or vault) with a keystone.

9. Computers. keyboard.

verb (used without object)

• keys,
  present (3rd person singular)
• keyed,
  past participle,  past
• keying
  present participle

1. to use a key.

2. Computers. keyboard.

verb phrase

1. key on

   1. Football. to watch the position and movements of an opponent in order to anticipate a play.

      The defensive backs keyed on the star receiver.

   2. Also key in on to single out as of prime importance or interest; be intent on or obsessed with.

      a company that is keyed in on growth.

2. key in keyboard.

3. key up

   1. to bring to a particular degree of intensity of feeling, excitement, energy, nervousness, agitation, etc..

      keyed up over the impending test.

   2. to raise (a piece of masonry) by the insertion of a wedge or wedges.

   3. to raise (the haunches of an arch) by the insertion of a voussoir.

idioms

1. power of the keys, the authority of a pope in ecclesiastical matters, vested in him as successor of St. Peter.

key ² American  

[kee] / ki /

noun

• keys
  plural

1. a reef or low island; cay.

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key ³ American  

[kee] / ki /

noun

Slang.

• keys
  plural

1. a kilogram of marijuana or other narcotic drug.

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Key ⁴ American  

[kee] / ki /

noun

1. Francis Scott, 1780–1843, U.S. lawyer: author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

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key ¹ British  

/ kiː /

noun

1. a metal instrument, usually of a specifically contoured shape, that is made to fit a lock and, when rotated, operates the lock's mechanism

2. any instrument that is rotated to operate a valve, clock winding mechanism, etc

3. a small metal peg or wedge inserted into keyways

4. any of a set of levers operating a typewriter, computer, etc

5. any of the visible parts of the lever mechanism of a musical keyboard instrument that when depressed set in motion the action that causes the instrument to sound

6. 1. Also called: tonality.  any of the 24 major and minor diatonic scales considered as a corpus of notes upon which a piece of music draws for its tonal framework

   2. the main tonal centre in an extended composition

      a symphony in the key of F major

   3. the tonic of a major or minor scale

   4. See tuning key

7. something that is crucial in providing an explanation or interpretation

   the key to adult behaviour lies in childhood

8. a means of achieving a desired end

   the key to happiness

9. a means of access or control

   Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean

10. a list of explanations of symbols, codes, etc

11. a text that explains or gives information about a work of literature, art, or music

12. Also called: key move.  the correct initial move in the solution of a set problem

13. biology a systematic list of taxonomic characteristics, used to identify animals or plants

14. photog painting the dominant tonal value and colour intensity of a picture See also low-key high-key

15. electrical engineering

    1. a hand-operated device for opening or closing a circuit or for switching circuits

    2. a hand-operated switch that is pressed to transmit coded signals, esp Morse code

16. the grooving or scratching of a surface or the application of a rough coat of plaster, etc, to provide a bond for a subsequent finish

17. pitch

    he spoke in a low key

18. a characteristic mood or style

    a poem in a melancholic key

19. level of intensity

    she worked herself up to a high key

20. railways a wooden wedge placed between a rail and a chair to keep the rail firmly in place

21. a wedge for tightening a joint or for splitting stone or timber

22. short for keystone

23. botany any dry winged fruit, esp that of the ash

24. (modifier) photog determining the tonal value of a photograph

    flesh colour is an important key tone

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adjective

1. of great importance; crucial

   a key issue

verb

1. (foll by to) to harmonize (with)

   to key one's actions to the prevailing mood

2. to adjust or fasten with a key or some similar device

3. to provide with a key or keys

4. to scratch the paintwork of (a car) with a key

5. (often foll by up) to locate the position of (a piece of copy, artwork, etc) on a layout by the use of symbols

6. (also intr) another word for keyboard

7. to include a distinguishing device in (an advertisement, etc), so that responses to it can be identified

8. to provide a keystone for (an arch)

Key ² British  

/ kiː /

noun

1. John ( Phillip ). born 1961, New Zealand politician; prime minister from 2008

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key ³ British  

/ kiː /

noun

1. a variant spelling of cay

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key Scientific  

/ kē /

1. See cay

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key Cultural  

1. The main or central note of a piece of music (or part of a piece of music). Each key has its own scale, beginning and ending on the note that defines the octave of the next scale. The key of C-major uses a scale that starts on C and uses only the white keys of the piano. In a piece composed in the key of C, the music is likely to end on the note C, and certain combinations of notes based on C will predominate.

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key More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing key

• in key
• under lock and key

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• keyless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• keys
  plural

Participles

• keying
  present
• keyed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• key
  simple
• keys
  simple
• have keyed
  perfect
• has keyed
  perfect
• am keying
  progressive
• are keying
  progressive
• is keying
  progressive
• have been keying
  perfect progressive
• has been keying
  perfect progressive

Past

• keyed
  simple
• had keyed
  perfect
• was keying
  progressive
• were keying
  progressive
• had been keying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will key
  simple
• will have keyed
  perfect
• will be keying
  progressive
• will have been keying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of key¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English key(e), kay(e), Old English cǣg, cǣge; cognate with Old Frisian kei, kai

Origin of key²

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Spanish cayo, probably from Arawak

Origin of key³

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; shortening and respelling of kilogram

Explanation

A key is a piece of metal that fits inside a lock and turns to open it. You might have a key ring with a house key, a car key, and maybe several more keys. A key is typically cut from metal, although many hotels use plastic keys for their guest rooms. If you are told that your attendance is key, you know you have to go. Another meaning of key is a button or lever you press with your fingers, like a piano key or a typewriter key. A key is also an explanation, like the answer key for a test or the key to success. And when you sing in key, you have the correct pitch.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

key Key keys keyed keying

The key to watch, as always, is consumer spending.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Almost six months into their war, the two sides are locked in a stalemate, with Iran keeping the key Strait of Hormuz shut and Washington persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

It’s easy to imagine students sweating through grueling tests of guitar technique and herculean vocal challenges, but one of Dean’s key lessons was about band dynamics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

But experts say another key factor was that India overestimated its own production - and allowed sugar to be exported before the extent of the shortfall became clear.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

It misses a number of key areas on the side and top of the brain.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

Key details: The PCE index had fallen in June for the first time in six years owing to lower gas prices.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

In Key West, Bobby Kuchinsky, general manager of Half Shell Raw Bar, terminated six of his employees, including prep cooks and bussers, who had TPS protections.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Key player Rodri is heading for Barcelona, too, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez a potential replacement.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Key details: The Amazon Prime sale played havoc with the government’s effort to account for seasonal swings in when Americans spent their money.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Mr. Stone was making a Hollywood movie called Key West.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

The team that hadn’t won a domestic championship in 15 years was handing the keys to a leader with precisely zero seasons of head coaching experience.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

That finding may help explain a familiar experience: looking repeatedly for something, such as a pair of keys, only to realize it was visible the entire time.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026

The Delevingne sisters decorated the 1955-midcentury property together before handing the keys over to Usher.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

“Every successive update we would get from her was just unbelievably surreal,” said Josh Augustin, who plays drums and keys and does production for the band.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

“I spent most of the day observing which keys opened which doors at the Olympus building,” she explained.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Health officials have keyed in on iceberg lettuce as a potential source.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

The emotional tone of each vocal performance is beautifully keyed to each song’s context.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

Sierra Canyon scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a one-run lead, keyed by an RBI double from Brayden Goldstein and a bases loaded walk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

The company appeared to use a mix of derivative contracts, including options, that were keyed off oil prices.

From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026

He was confident he could do the work, yet inside he was keyed up and jumpy.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

In an interview with Axios published Sunday, Trump said “We are low keying it” with Iran.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 9, 2026

Blindfolded, I felt Theatre Obscura was mostly playing off our fears rather than giving in to them, largely keying in on our anticipation that something may happen to us when stripped of sight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

“When the market is keying off fundamentals, around earnings season of these companies, these stocks rally,” Slimmon said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025

Their joint Code of Practice states that parking operators "must have and follow a documented policy and procedure to avoid issuing or enforcing a parking charge in respect of accidental keying errors".

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2025

He consulted his notes, keying in on one thing in particular.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

Related Words

• basic
• crucial
• decisive
• fundamental
• indispensable
• leading
• main
• major
• pivotal
• primary
• principal
• vital