key

== Translingual == === Symbol === key (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Kupia. === See also === Wiktionary’s coverage of Kupia terms == English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kē, IPA(key): /kiː/ (General American) IPA(key): /ki/ Rhymes: -iː Homophones: cay, ki, quay === Etymology 1 === From Middle English keye, kaye, keiȝe, from Old English cǣġ (“key, solution, experiment”) (whence also Scots key and kay (“key”)), from Anglo-Frisian Proto-West Germanic *kaiju, of uncertain origin. The only sure cognates are Saterland Frisian Koai (“key”), West Frisian kaai (“key”), and North Frisian kai, koie (“key”). Possibly from Proto-Germanic *kēgaz, *kēguz (“stake, post, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵogʰ-, *ǵegʰ-, *ǵegʰn- (“branch, stake, bush”), which would make it cognate with Middle Low German kāk (“whipping post, pillory”), and perhaps to Middle Dutch keige (“javelin, spear”) and Middle Low German keie, keige (“spear”). For the semantic development, note that medieval keys were simply long poles (ending in a hook) with which a crossbar obstructing a door from the inside could be removed from the outside, by lifting it through a hole in the door. Liberman has noted, however, "The original meaning of *kaig-jo- was presumably '*pin with a twisted end.' Words with the root *kai- followed by a consonant meaning 'crooked, bent; twisted' are common only in the North Germanic languages." ==== Noun ==== key (plural keys) (countable) An object designed to open and close a lock. A card or fob that electronically signals a lock to open. (figurative, cryptography) A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages. (Internet) A password restricting access to an IRC channel. An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation. Hypernyms: part, component Hyponym: Woodruff key Comeronyms: keyway, keyseat Coordinate terms: spline, spline, feather (machinery) A cotter pin. (architecture) A piece of wood used as a wedge. (architecture) The last board of a floor when laid down. (masonry) A keystone. That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and that holds the rest in place. (rail transport) A wooden wedge, driven sideways between a bullhead rail and a cast-iron chair, to keep the rail securely in position. (figurative) A crucial step or requirement. (by extension) An idea, theory or observation that explains, justifies or renders (something) comprehensible. A deciding factor. Senses relating to a guide that explains information. A small guide explaining symbols, abbreviations or terminology, especially the legend on a map or chart. A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test. (biology) A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon. (computing) A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container. Senses relating to a set of features that modify the output of a device. (computing) One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding t#o text characters. (music) In musical instruments, one of the valve levers used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind. In instruments with a keyboard such as an organ or piano, one of the levers, or especially the exposed front end of it, which are depressed to cause a particular sound or note to be produced. (music) A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition. The lowest note of a scale; keynote. In musical theory, the total melodic and harmonic relations, which exist between the tones of an ideal scale, major or minor; tonality. In musical theory and notation, the tonality centering in a given tone, or the several tones taken collectively, of a given scale, major or minor. In musical notation, a sign at the head of a staff indicating the musical key. (figurative) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance. ?, William Cowper, Conversation You fall at once into a lower key. (by extension, advertising) A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic. Senses of items with visual similarity to a key or group of keys on a keyring. An item of decor shaped like a key. (botany) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara. Synonym: key-fruit (basketball) The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line, the free-throw lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole. (cartomancy) The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck, which features an image of a key. Senses related to colors. (art) The overall color tone of a painting or other visual art, with a high key indicating generally light colors and a low key indicating generally dark colors. (print and film) The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK. (computer graphics, television) A color to be masked or made transparent. (historical) A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code. (databases) In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique). The degree of roughness, or the ability of a surface to retain an applied liquid, such as paint or glue. Any of various tools comparable to a wrench (spanner) or driver, which have a specialized end that matches a fixture, analogously to a lock's key. Hyponym: church key, clock key (winding key), doorbell key, hex key (Allen key), radiator key (bleed key), Torx key, utility key (universal cabinet key/cabinet control key), water key (sillcock key) ===== Hyponyms ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== clef scale key on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Key in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911) ==== Adjective ==== key (not generally comparable, comparative keyer or more key, superlative keyest or most key) Indispensable, supremely important. Important, salient. ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== key (third-person singular simple present keys, present participle keying, simple past and past participle keyed) To fit (a lock) with a key. To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them. To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class. 2007, Stephen Blake Mettee, Michelle Doland, and Doris Hall, compilers, The American Directory of Writer's Guidelines, 6th ("2007–2008") edition, →ISBN, page 757, Indicate the comparative value of each heading by keying it with a number in pencil, in the left margin, as follows: […] (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. Our instructor told us to key in our user IDs. (colloquial) To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key. To link (as one might do with a key or legend). (intransitive, biology, chiefly taxonomy) To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key. (advertising, transitive) To modify (an advertisement) so as to target a particular group or demographic. To attune to; to set at; to pitch. To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges. To prepare for plastering by adding the key (that part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place). To provide an arch with a keystone. Clipping of chromakey. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== References ==== === Etymology 2 === Variant of cay, from Spanish cayo, from Taíno cayo (“small island”) ==== Alternative forms ==== cay ==== Noun ==== key (plural keys) One of a string of small islands. ===== Derived terms ===== Florida Keys key deer Key West Long Key ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === Clipping of kilogram or kilo. ==== Noun ==== key (plural keys) (slang) A kilogram, especially of a recreational drug. Synonym: kay ===== Alternative forms ===== ki, keye, kee ===== References ===== “key n.2”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present. === Etymology 4 === ==== Noun ==== key (plural keys) Alternative form of quay. === Etymology 5 === Clipping of key position. ==== Noun ==== key (plural keys) (Australian rules football) A key position player (a tall forward or defender). === Anagrams === Kye, kye == Central Kurdish == === Adverb === key when == Chinese == === Etymology === Probably from English chromakey. === Pronunciation === === Verb === key (Hong Kong Cantonese, slightly dated) to superimpose (an image, typically that of a person) onto another image 今日佢冇嚟影班相，唯有之後key返佢個大頭落去張相度啦。 [Cantonese, trad.]今日佢冇嚟影班相，唯有之后key返佢个大头落去张相度啦。 [Cantonese, simp.]gam1 jat6 keoi5 mou5 lai4 jing2 baan1 soeng6-2, wai4 jau5 zi1 hau6 ki1 faan1 keoi5 go3 daai6 tau4-2 lok6 heoi3 zoeng1 soeng6-2 dou6 laa1. [Jyutping]He did not came today for the class photo taking. The only way [to solve this] is to photoshop his face back onto the class photo. ==== Usage notes ==== Often considered to be a synonym of P (“to photoshop”). ==== Derived terms ==== === See also === 啱key (ngaam1 ki1), 升key雀 (sing1 ki1 zoek6-2) == Hawaiian Creole == === Etymology === Derived from English key. === Noun === key (countable) key (an object designed to open and close a lock) == Manx == === Etymology 1 === From a respelling of kay, from Middle Irish ceó (“mist, milk, cream”), from Old Irish céo (“mist, fog”). ==== Noun ==== key m (plural [please provide]) cream ===== Derived terms ===== key blinkit key feayr key riojey, key riojit === Etymology 2 === From English quay. ==== Noun ==== key m (genitive singular keyee) (nautical) quay === Mutation === == Middle English == === Noun === key alternative form of keye (“key”) == Swedish == === Etymology === Likely borrowed from English key. === Noun === key c (genitive keys, plural keys, plural genitive keys) (slang) a hundred grams of cocaine ==== See also ==== kasse === References === Slangopedia == Tagalog == === Etymology === Borrowed from English kay, the English name of the letter K / k. === Pronunciation === (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /kej/ [keɪ̯] Rhymes: -ej Syllabification: key Homophone: Kaye === Noun === key (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜒᜌ᜔) the name of the Latin script letter K/k, in the Filipino alphabet Synonym: (in the Abakada alphabet and Abecedario) ka ==== See also ==== (Latin-script letter names) titik; ey, bi, si, di, i, ef, dyi, eyts, ay, dyey, key, el, em, en, enye, en dyi, o, pi, kyu, ar, es, ti, yu, vi, dobolyu, eks, way, zi === Further reading === “key”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018