KEY | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English cǣg, cǣge, of unknown origin

a small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it

implement for opening or closing lock

• there were two keys to the cupboard
• a room key

each of several buttons on a panel for operating a computer, typewriter, or telephone

button on keyboard

• press the ENTER key

a thing that provides a means of achieving or understanding something

means of achieving or understanding something

• discipline seems to be the key to her success

a group of notes based on a particular note and comprising a scale, regarded as forming the tonal basis of a piece of music

group of notes comprising scale

• the key of E minor

the dry winged fruit of an ash, maple, or sycamore, typically growing in bunches; a samara.

winged fruit of sycamore etc.

the part of a first coat of wall plaster that passes between the laths and so secures the rest.

first coat of plaster that secures others

the keyhole-shaped area marked on the court near each basket

keyhole-shaped area near basket

• he hit another jumper from the top of the key

of crucial importance

of crucial importance

• she became a key figure in the suffragette movement

enter or operate on (data) by means of a computer keyboard or telephone keypad

enter data by means of keyboard

• not everyone can key data quickly and accurately
• she keyed in a series of commands
• the information is then keyed into a computer
• a hacker caused disruption after keying into a vital database

fasten (something) in position with a pin, wedge, or bolt

fasten in position

• the coils may be keyed into the slots by fibre wedges

roughen (a surface) to help the adhesion of plaster or other material

roughen surface to help adhesion of plaster

• a wooden float with nails driven through it is used to key the wall surface between coats

word (an advertisement in a periodical), typically by varying the form of the address given, so as to identify the publication generating particular responses

word advertisement to identify publication generating responses

• one keys advertisements and measures returns

vandalize (a car) by scraping its paint with a key.

vandalize car with key

be the crucial factor in achieving

be crucial factor in achieving

• Ewing keyed a 73–35 advantage on the boards with twenty rebounds