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.