English

Pronunciation

• kē, /kiː/, /ki:/

Homophones

• cay (one pronunciation), quay

Noun

key (plural keys)

1. An object designed to open and close a lock.
2. 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.
3. A crucial step or requirement.

   the key to solving this problem

   the key to winning this game

4. 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.

5. One of a number of rectangular moving parts on a piano or musical keyboard, each causing a particular sound or note to be produced.
6. A scale of musical notes on which a composition is based

   The key of B-flat major

7. A device used to transmit Morse code.
8. (cryptography) A piece of information (e.g. a passphrase ) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
9. (computing) In a database, a field of a relation constrained to be unique.
10. (computing) In a database, a field in a record that is used as a search argument (but is not necessarily unique).
11. (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.

12. (also cay ) One of a string of small islands.

    "the Florida Keys"

13. 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

object used to maintain the orientation between two others

crucial step

button on a typewriter or computer keyboard

part of a piano or musical keyboard

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

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

1. Indispensable.

   a key player

   He is the key witness.

2. Important, salient.

   She makes several key points

Transitive verb

to key (keys , keyed , keying )

1. To fit (a lock) with a key.
2. To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
3. (telegraphy and radio telegraphy ) To depress (a telegraph key).
4. (radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
5. (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

• keyboard
• keychain
• keyhole
• keynote
• keypad
• keystone
• keystroke
• key in
• key off
• key signature
• public-key cryptography
• skeleton key

Kurdish

Soranî Kurdish

Adverb

1. when