Definition of “key”
noun:
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An object designed to open and close a lock.
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An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
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A crucial step or requirement.
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A guide explaining the symbols or terminology of a map or chart; a legend.
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A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
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One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.
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One of a number of rectangular moving parts on a piano or musical keyboard, each causing a particular sound or note to be produced.
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One of various levers on a musical instrument used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind.
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A hierarchical scale of musical notes on which a composition is based.
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A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.
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A piece of information (e.g. a passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
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In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
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A value that uniquely identifies an entry in an associative array.
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The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line, the free-throw lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole.
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A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.
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Kilogram.
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One of a string of small islands.
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adjective:
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Indispensable, supremely important.
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Important, salient.
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verb:
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To fit (a lock) with a key.
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To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
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To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
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To depress (a telegraph key).
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To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
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(more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
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To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.
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To link (as one might do with a key or legend).
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(biology, chiefly taxonomy) To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.
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