Noun | 1. | key - metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated |
2. | key - something crucial for explaining; "the key to development is economic integration" | |
3. | key - pitch of the voice; "he spoke in a low key" | |
4. | key - any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music Synonyms: tonality | |
5. | key - a kilogram of a narcotic drug; "they were carrying two keys of heroin" | |
6. | key - a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple | |
7. | Key - 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) Synonyms: Francis Scott Key | |
8. | key - a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida Synonyms: cay, Florida keys | |
9. | key - (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"; "he dominates play in the paint" Synonyms: paint | |
10. | key - a list of answers to a test; "some students had stolen the key to the final exam" | |
11. | key - a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations | |
12. | key - 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" | |
13. | key - mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock) Synonyms: winder | |
14. | key - the central building block at the top of an arch or vault | |
15. | key - a lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed | |
Verb | 1. | key - identify as in botany or biology, for example |
2. | key - provide with a key; "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building" | |
3. | key - vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key; "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot" | |
4. | key - regulate the musical pitch of | |
5. | key - harmonize with or adjust to; "key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude" | |
Adj. | 1. | key - serving as an essential component; "a cardinal rule"; "the central cause of the problem"; "an example that was fundamental to the argument"; "computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure" |
2. | key - effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" Synonyms: operative |
KEY. An instrument made for shutting and opening a lock.
2. The keys of a house are considered as real estate, and descend to
the heir with the inheritance. But see 5 Blackf. 417.
3. When the keys of a warehouse are delivered to a purchaser of goods
locked up there, with a view of effecting a delivery of such goods, the
delivery is complete. The doctrine of the civil law is the same. Dig. lib.
41, t. 1, 1. 9, Sec. 6; and lib. 18, t. 1, 1. 74.
KEY, estates. A wharf at which to land goods from, or to load them in a vessel. This word is now generally spelled Quay, from the French, quai.
1. | (database) | key - A value used to identify a record in a database, derived by applying some fixed function to the record. The key is often simply one of the fields (a column if the database is considered as a table with records being rows, see "key field"). Alternatively the key may be obtained by applying some function, e.g. a hash function, to one or more of the fields. The set of keys for all records forms an index. Multiple indexes may be built for one database depending on how it is to be searched. | |
2. | (cryptography) | key - A value which must be fed into the algorithm used to decode an encrypted message in order to reproduce the original plain text. Some encryption schemes use the same (secret) key to encrypt and decrypt a message, but public key encryption uses a "private" (secret) key and a "public" key which is known by all parties. | |
3. | (hardware) | key - An electromechanical keyboard button. |