DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
key /ˈki/
鍵,解答,關鍵,要害,基調,線索,答案,暗礁(vt.)調音,鎖上,鑰匙
key
鍵; 關鍵號
key
排序鑰
key
鍵 鑰 關鍵
Key n.
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. A small device which is inserted into a mechanism and turned like a key to fasten, adjust, or wind it; as, a watch key; a bed key; the winding key for a clock, etc.
3. One of a set of small movable parts on an instrument or machine which, by being depressed, serves as the means of operating it; the complete set of keys is usually called the keyboard; as, the keys of a piano, an organ, an accordion, a computer keyboard, or of a typewriter. The keys may operate parts of the instrument by a mechanical action, as on a piano, or by closing an electrical circuit, as on a computer keyboard. See also senses 12 and 13.
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. Similarly, see also senses 14 and 15.
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.
12. 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; as, a telegraph key.
14. 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 Biol. a table or synopsis of conspicuous distinguishing characters of members of a taxonomic group.
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 Key of a 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.
Key v. t. [imp. & p. p. Keved p. pr. & vb. n. Keying.]
1. To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
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; as, the whole team was keyed up for the championship game.
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Quay n. 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.]
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 the appropriate 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: a kilogram of a narcotic drug; "they were carrying two keys
of heroin"
6: a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or
elm or maple [syn: samara, key fruit]
7: United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after
witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War
of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The
Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843) [syn: Francis Scott Key]
8: a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida [syn: cay,
Florida keys]
9: (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" [syn: paint]
10: a list of answers to a test; "some students had stolen the
key to the final exam"
11: a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or
abbreviations
12: 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"
13: mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven
by a spring (as a clock) [syn: winder]
14: the central building block at the top of an arch or vault
[syn: keystone, headstone]
15: a lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed
v 1: identify as 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; "His new
Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot"
4: regulate the musical pitch of
5: harmonize with or adjust to; "key one's actions to the
voters' prevailing attitude"
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.