10 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Key \Key\ (k[=e]), n. [OE. keye, key, kay, AS c[ae]g.]
1. 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
2. An instrument which is turned like a key in fastening or
adjusting any mechanism; as a watch key; a bed key, etc
3. 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.
4. 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.
Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true
key of books. --Locke.
Who keeps the keys of all the creeds. --Tennyson.
5. That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up make
fast or adjust to position.
6. (Arch.)
a A piece of wood used as a wedge.
b The last board of a floor when laid down
7. (Masonry)
a A keystone.
b That part of the plastering which is forced through
between the laths and holds the rest in place
8. (Mach.)
a A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their
relative position; a cotter; a forelock. See Illusts
of {Cotter}, and {Gib}.
b 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
9. (Bot.) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a
wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; --
called also {key fruit}.
10. (Mus.)
a 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.
b The fundamental tone of a movement to which its
modulations are referred, and with which it generally
begins and ends keynote.
Both warbling of one song, both in one key.
--Shak.
11. Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or
utterance.
You fall at once into a lower key. --Cowper.
{Key bed}. Same as {Key seat}.
{Key bolt}, a bolt which has a mortise near the end and is
secured by a cotter or wedge instead of a nut.
{Key bugle}. See {Kent bugle}.
{Key of a position} or {country.} (Mil.) See {Key}, 4.
{Key seat} (Mach.), a bed or groove to receive a key which
prevents one part from turning on the other
{Key way}, a channel for a key, in the hole of a piece which
is keyed to a shaft; an internal key seat; -- called also
{key seat}.
{Key wrench} (Mach.), an adjustable wrench in which the
movable jaw is made fast by a key.
{Power of the keys} (Eccl.), the authority claimed by the
ministry in some Christian churches to administer the
discipline of the church, and to grant or withhold its
privileges; -- so called from the declaration of Christ,
``I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.'' --Matt. xvi. 19.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Key \Key\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Keved}; p. pr & vb n.
{Keying}.]
To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or
wedges. --Francis.
{To key up}.
a (Arch.) To raise (the whole ring of an arch) off its
centering, by driving in the keystone forcibly.
b (Mus.) To raise the pitch of
c Hence fig., to produce nervous tension in
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Key \Key\, n.
A simplified version or analysis which accompanies something
as a clue to its explanation, a book or table containing the
solutions to problems, ciphers, allegories, or the like or a
table or synopsis of conspicuous distinguishing characters of
members of a taxonomic group
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Key \Key\, n. (Teleg.)
A metallic lever by which the circuit of the sending or
transmitting part of a station equipment may be easily and
rapidly opened and closed; any device for closing or opening
an electric circuit.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Space bar \Space bar\ or key \key\ (Mach.)
A bar or key, in a typewriter or typesetting machine, used
for spacing between letters.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Quay \Quay\, n. [F. quai. See {Key} quay.]
A mole, bank, or wharf, formed toward the sea, or at the side
of a harbor, river, or other navigable water, for convenience
in loading and unloading vessels. [Written also {key}.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Cotter \Cot"ter\ (k[o^]t"t[~e]r), n.
1. A piece of wood or metal, commonly wedge-shaped, used for
fastening together parts of a machine or structure. It is
driven into an opening through one or all of the parts
Note: [See Illust.] In the United States a cotter is commonly
called a {key}.
2. A toggle.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
key
adj 1: 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" [syn: {cardinal},
{central}, {fundamental}, {primal}]
2: effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
[syn: {operative}]
n 1: metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted
into a lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
2: something crucial for explaining; "the key to development is
economic integration"
3: pitch of the voice; "he spoke in a low key"
4: any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the
tonal framework for a piece of music [syn: {tonality}]
[ant: {atonality}]
5: one thousand grams; the basic unit of mass adopted under the
System International d'Unites [syn: {kilogram}, {kg}, {kilo}]
6: a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida [syn: {cay},
{Florida keys}]
7: a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or
abbreviations
8: used to wind a spring-driven device (as a clock) [syn: {winder}]
9: a lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed
v 1: as in in botany or biology, for example [syn: {identify}, {discover},
{key out}, {distinguish}, {describe}, {name}]
2: provide with a key; "We were keyed after the locks were
changed in the building"
3: vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key"
4: regulate the musical pitch of
5: harmonize with or adjust to "key one's actions to the
voters' prevailing attitude"
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]:
key
1. 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. 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.
(1997-04-26)
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Key
frequently mentioned in Scripture. It is called in Hebrew
_maphteah_, i.e., the opener (Judg. 3:25); and in the Greek New
Testament _kleis_, from its use in shutting (Matt. 16:19; Luke
11:52; Rev. 1:18, etc.). Figures of ancient Egyptian keys are
frequently found on the monuments, also of Assyrian locks and
keys of wood, and of a large size (comp. Isa. 22:22).
The word is used figuratively of power or authority or office
(Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7; Rev. 1:8; comp. 9:1; 20:1; comp. also
Matt. 16:19; 18:18). The "key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52; comp.
Matt. 23:13) is the means of attaining the knowledge regarding
the kingdom of God. The "power of the keys" is a phrase in
general use to denote the extent of ecclesiastical authority.
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Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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