key
[noun]
Synonyms:
- opener, latchkey
- answer, explanation, solution
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- essential, crucial, decisive, fundamental, important, leading, main, major, pivotal, principal

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English Thesaurus: important, big, significant, noteworthy, essential, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Key, Francis Scott
(1779–1843) a US poet, who wrote the words of The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem (=official song) of the US

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. key¹ S3 W2 /kiː/ adjective [no comparative]
very important or necessary:
China’s support is key to the success of the coalition.
key factor/points/questions etc
The President makes all the key decisions on foreign policy.
key role/player/figure etc (=one with a lot of influence on a result)
The show has been hit by the departure of key personnel.
⇒ low-key

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. key² S2 W2 noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cæg]

1. LOCK a small specially shaped piece of metal that you put into a lock and turn in order to lock or unlock a door, start a car etc
house/car keys
I lost my house keys.
A bunch of keys hung from his belt.
key to
I can lend you a spare key to the store until you get one cut (=made).
► Do not say ‘the key of’ something. Say the key to something. ⇒ master key

2. IMPORTANT PARTthe key the part of a plan, action etc that will make it possible for it to succeed
the key to
Working well as a team is the key to success.
a discovery that may hold the key to our understanding of the universe

3. COMPUTER the buttons that you press on a computer keyboard to operate the computer:
Press the ‘Escape’ key to exit.
hot key/shortcut key (=a special key on a computer, that does specific things)

4. MUSIC
a) [usually plural] the wooden or metal parts that you press on a piano and some wind instruments in order to play them:
piano keys
b) a scale of notes that begins with one particular note, or the quality of sound this scale has:
a tune in the key of A minor

5. MAP/DRAWING a list of the signs, colours etc used on a map or technical drawing etc that explains what they mean

6. TEST the printed answers to a test or set of questions in a book

7. ISLAND [usually plural] a small flat island, especially one that is part of a group near the coast:
the Florida Keys

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. key³ verb [transitive]

1. American English informal if you key a win for your team, you help it win a game because you play very well:
Abdul keyed the game with three touchdowns.

2. British English to prepare a surface so that a covering such as paint will stick to it
key something ↔ in phrasal verb
to put information into a computer or other machine, using buttons or a keyboard:
Key in your password and press ‘Return’.
key something to something phrasal verb American English

1. to make or change a system so that it works well with something else:
The daycare hours are keyed to the needs of working parents.

2. if the level, price, or value of something is keyed to something else, it is related to it and they rise and fall at the same time:
Pensions are keyed to the rate of inflation.
⇒ keyed up

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

key
noun
I. for a door
ADJ. master, skeleton | duplicate, spare | car, desk, front door, house, ignition, etc.
QUANT. bunch, set a large bunch of keys a set of car keys
VERB + KEY turn She turned the key in the lock.
insert, put in | remove, take out | use She must have used a key to get in.
KEY + VERB open, unlock You need a key to open the garage.
lock | turn They heard a key turn in the back door lock.
PREP. with a/the ~ You have to close it with the key.
~ to the key to the front door
PHRASES get a key cut I'll get another key cut so that you can have one.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

key
II. on a computer
ADJ. Alt, arrow, backspace, control, delete, escape, function, return, shift, etc. | shortcut F1 is the shortcut key for calling up help.
QUANT. row the top row of keys
VERB + KEY hit, hold down, press, touch Hold down the Alt key while pressing the arrow keys.
release
 ⇒ Special page at COMPUTER

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

key
III. explanation of symbols, etc.
KEY + VERB tell sb sth The key tells you what all the symbols mean.
PREP. in a/the ~ You can find the symbols in the key at the bottom of the page.
~ to the key to the signs and symbols

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

key
IV. decisive factor
VERB + KEY have, hold First-time voters could hold the key to the election result.
PREP. ~ to Language is the key to understanding those around you.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

key
V. in music
ADJ. major, minor | high, low
VERB + KEY change
KEY + VERB change The key changes from C major to A minor.
KEY + NOUN change | signature There are two sharps in the key signature of D major.
PREP. in a/the ~ What key's it in? Can we try it in a lower key?
~ of the key of G major

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

key

a key factor (=a very important factor)
A key factor in starting any business is its location.
a key element/feature/component (=a very important part)
Advertising is a key element in the success of a product.
a key role
Sanders played a key role in the team’s winning season.
a key area
What are the key areas of economic policy?
a key issue/question/point
The environment became a key issue during the election.
a key figure (=a key person)
She was a key figure in the election campaign.
a key player
He won’t leave key players out of the team.
a key witness (=someone who can give important information about a crime)
She will be a key witness in the murder trial.
a key decision
Women made most of the key decisions about how money was spent in the household.
a key word (=an important or useful word)
Once you know the key words, you can make your own sentence.
a spare key (=an extra key)
Never hide your spare key under the doormat.
door key
I’ll get a new door key cut for you.
car keys
She left her car keys on the hall table.
house keys
I’ve lost my house keys.
the front/back door key
She felt in her pocket for the front door key.
the ignition key (=the key that starts a car or engine)
Sam turned the ignition key and drove slowly away.
a bunch/set of keys (=a group of keys kept together)
He took out a huge bunch of keys and unlocked the door.
the key to a door/house/cupboard (=the key that opens a door/house/cupboard)
Has anyone seen the key to the garage door?
put a key in a lock/the door
I put the key in the lock, but it wouldn’t turn.
insert a key formal (=put it in a lock)
She inserted the key into the lock.
turn a key
He climbed into his car and turned the key.
cut a key (=make one)
Could you get a key cut for me?
jangle your keys (=move them so they make a ringing sound)
He walked off down the corridor, jangling his keys.
a key unlocks/opens something
The largest key unlocks the front door.
a key turns
We heard the key turn in the lock.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

key
noun
BAD: The key of our success is that we all worked very hard.
GOOD: The key to our success is that we all worked very hard.

Usage Note:
key to a problem or situation: 'The key to inflation is control of the money supply.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

important having a big effect on people’s lives or on events in the future:
an important decision
Good qualifications are increasingly important.
big important or serious:
It’s a big decision.
a big problem
significant important enough to be noticeable or have a big effect:
There is no significant difference between the performance of male and female students.
The Internet has brought about significant changes in people’s lives.
noteworthy formal important or interesting enough to deserve your attention:
The castle is the island’s most noteworthy feature.
The jury’s verdict was noteworthy for a number of reasons.
essential very important, especially for the success, health, or safety of someone or something:
It is essential to speak the local language.
essential supplies of food and clothing
vital/crucial extremely important, because without it there could be serious problems:
His evidence was vital to the case.
The US plays a crucial role in the region.
The media are a vital part of the political system.
key extremely important and having a big effect:
Wheeler had a key role in the development of the atom bomb.
Timing is key.
of great/considerable importance very important:
In the construction industry, health and safety are of considerable importance.
momentous very important because it has a very great effect on the future:
Momentous events were taking place in Russia.
a momentous decision
main/chief/principal [only before noun] most important:
What was your main aim?
the principal reason for their decision
the chief cause of the recession
major [usually before noun] one of the most important or serious things:
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.
Street crime is a major problem.
central/primary [usually before noun] most important – used especially when talking about the main thing that people are discussing, worried about, or trying to do:
Education will be the central issue in the election.
Our primary concern is passenger safety.
paramount /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ formal more important than anything else, so that you must consider it when deciding what to do:
Airport security is of paramount importance.
The needs of the students are paramount.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

main larger or more important than all the others:
the main entrance of the building
the main reason for his decision
chief/principal most important. Chief and principal are more formal than main, and are often used in written English:
Coffee is the country’s principal export.
What is the company’s chief objective?
major very important or serious:
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.
Street crime is becoming a major problem.
key most important, or the one that everything or everyone else depends on:
Education is likely to be a key issue in the election campaign.
Hooper was a key member of the team.
Diet is key.
number one especially spoken most important or best - this phrase sounds a little informal and it is used especially in spoken English:
Reliability is the number one priority.
the number one cause of death
He is still in the number one position.
primary most important - used especially about the most important aim, role, cause, or concern. Primary is more formal than main:
The primary aim of the project was to help students develop their communication skills.
Security is our primary concern.
The primary function of the university was considered to be the teaching of ‘the great cultural disciplines’.
prime very important or most important - used especially about the most important reason, cause, or aim, or about the most likely target or suspect. Prime is more formal than main:
Their prime objective is to increase profits for their shareholders.
Tourists are prime targets for theft and robbery.
core most important - used especially about the things that people should pay most attention to:
the core skills of reading and writing
He wants the company to focus on its core business - advertising.
The party’s core values are individual freedom and reducing the amount of government bureaucracy.
central most important and having more influence than anything else:
The U.S. played a central role in the peace negotiations.
a central theme of the book
The central question is, why are people still so attached to their cars?
predominant most common, typical, or important:
Yellow was the predominant colour everywhere.
High arched windows are a predominant feature in English churches.
New York still has a predominant role in the contemporary art world.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

key
̈ɪki:
See: low key , off-key

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲