English
Pronunciation
Homophones
- cay (one pronunciation), quay
Noun
key (plural keys)
- An object designed to open and close a lock.
- An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain the orientation between them.
- A crucial step or requirement.
- the key to solving this problem
- the key to winning this game
- One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, most of which generally correspond to a particular letter of the alphabet, numeral, or special symbol.
- Press the Escape key.
- One of a number of rectangular moving parts on a piano or musical keyboard, each causing a particular sound or note to be produced.
- A scale of musical notes on which a composition is based
- The key of B-flat major
- A device used to transmit Morse code.
- (cryptography) A piece of information (e.g. a passphrase ) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
- (computing) In a database, a field of a relation constrained to be unique.
- (computing) In a database, a field in a record that is used as a search argument (but is not necessarily unique).
- (basketball) The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the freethrow line, the freethrow lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole.
- He shoots from the top of the key.
- (also cay ) One of a string of small islands.
- "the Florida Keys"
- A small guide explaining the symbols or terminology of a document.
- The key says that A stands for the accounting department.
Translations
device designed to open and close a lock
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- Lithuanian: raktas m
- Spanish: llave f
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object used to maintain the orientation between two others
crucial step
button on a typewriter or computer keyboard
- French: touche f
- German: Taste f
- Italian: tasto m
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- Lithuanian: klavišas m
- Spanish: tecla f
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part of a piano or musical keyboard
- German: Taste f
- Italian: tasto m
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- Lithuanian: klavišas m
- Spanish: tecla f
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scale of musical notes
device used to transmit Morse code
cryptography: piece of information used to encode or decode
computing: field of a database constrained to be unique
computing: field in a record used as a search argument
in basketball
small island
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- Lithuanian: approxim. salelė f
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small guide explaining symbols or terminology
Translations to be checked
The translations below need to be checked by native speakers and inserted into the appropriate table(s) above. The numbering is unreliable or incorrect.
- Bulgarian: ключ m (1, 5), клавиш m (3, 4)
- Czech: klíč m (1, 5), klávesa f (3, 4)
- Dutch: sleutel m (1), toets m (3)
- Farsi: کلید (Kelid)
- Finnish: avain (1), näppäin (3), kosketin (4)
- Frisian: kaai (1, 3), knop (3)
- German: Schlüssel m (5)
- Hebrew: מפתח m (1)
- Hungarian: kulcs (1), billentyű (3, 4)
- Japanese: 鍵 (かぎ, kagi) (1), 鍵 (けん, ken) (3, 4)
- Romanian: cheie f (1), tastă f (3)
- Russian: ключ (1), клавиша (3, 4)
- Slovak: kľúč m (1, 5), kláves m (3, 4)
- Slovene: ključ m
- Swedish: nyckel (1), tangent (3)
Adjective
key
- Indispensable.
- a key player
- He is the key witness.
- Important, salient.
- She makes several key points
Transitive verb
to key (keys , keyed , keying )
- To fit (a lock) with a key.
- To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
- (telegraphy and radio telegraphy ) To depress (a telegraph key).
- (radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
- (computing) (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad .
- Key in your user ID.
fit (a lock) with a key
fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key
telegraphy: depress (a telegraph key)
radio: operate (transmitter switch of a two-way radio)
computing: enter (information)
Derived terms
Kurdish
Soranî Kurdish
Adverb
- when
