Key ¹

Definition: An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place.

Key ²

Definition: An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or adjusting any mechanism; as, a watch key; a bed key, etc.

Key ³

Definition: That part of an instrument or machine which serves as the means of operating it; as, a telegraph key; the keys of a pianoforte, or of a typewriter.

Key ⁴

Definition: A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem.

Key ⁵

Definition: That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position.

Key ⁶

Definition: A piece of wood used as a wedge.

Key ⁷

Definition: The last board of a floor when laid down.

Key ⁸

Definition: A keystone.

Key ⁹

Definition: That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.

Key ¹⁰

Definition: A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock.

Key ¹¹

Definition: A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but more frequently by its resistance to shearing, being usually embedded partly in the shaft and partly in the crank, pulley, etc.

Key ¹²

Definition: An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; called also key fruit.

Key ¹³

Definition: A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key.

Key ¹⁴

Definition: The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote.

Key ¹⁵

Definition: Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.

Key ¹⁶

Definition: To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.

key ¹⁷

Definition: metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock''s mechanism can be rotated

key ¹⁸

Definition: a lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed

key ¹⁹

Definition: the central building block at the top of an arch or vault

key ²⁰

Definition: mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)

key ²¹

Definition: pitch of the voice; "he spoke in a low key"

key ²²

Definition: something crucial for explaining; "the key to development is economic integration"

key ²³

Definition: 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"

key ²⁴

Definition: a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations

key ²⁵

Definition: a list of answers to a test; "some students had stolen the key to the final exam"

key ²⁶

Definition: any of major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music

key ²⁷

Definition: (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"

key ²⁸

Definition: a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida

Key ²⁹

Definition: United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner''

key ³⁰

Definition: a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple

key ³¹

Definition: a kilogram of a narcotic drug; "they were carrying two keys of heroin"

key ³²

Definition: harmonize with or adjust to; "key one''s actions to the voters'' prevailing attitude"

key ³³

Definition: regulate the musical pitch of

key ³⁴

Definition: identify as in botany or biology, for example

key ³⁵

Definition: vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key; "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot"

key ³⁶

Definition: provide with a key; "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building"

key ³⁷

Definition: 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"

key ³⁸

Definition: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"