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more about key
key |
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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