key :: Lexipedia - Where words have meaning

Nouns (13)

n. metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

key

n. a lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed

key

n. something crucial for explaining; "the key to development is economic integration"

key

n. a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations

winder

n. mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)

tonality

n. any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music

cay

n. a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida

kilogram, kg, kilo

n. one thousand grams; the basic unit of mass adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites; "a kilogram is approximately 2.2 pounds"

key field, control field, data encryption key

n. piece of data used to identify a record

Verbs (8)

key

v. vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key; "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot"

provide with a key

v. provide with a key; "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building"

name, discover, identify, distinguish, describe, key out

v. identify as in botany or biology, for example

Adverbs (0)

Adjectives (5)

cardinal, central, fundamental, polar, primal

adj. 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"

Fuzzynyms (86)

latchkey

n. key for raising or drawing back a latch or opening an outside door

skeleton key

n. a passkey with much of the bit filed away so that it can open different locks

bar

n. a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon; "there were bars in the windows to prevent escape"

resolution, answer, solution, result

n. a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem; "they were trying to find a peaceful solution"; "the answers were in the back of the book"; "he computed the result to four decimal places"

key, tonality

n. any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music

blend, portmanteau word

n. a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings; "`smog' is a blend of `smoke' and `fog'"; "`motel' is a portmanteau word made by combining `motor' and `hotel'"; "`brunch' is a well-known portmanteau"

clarification, elucidation

n. an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding; "the professor's clarification helped her to understand the textbook"

conclusion

n. the proposition arrived at by logical reasoning (such as the proposition that must follow from the major and minor premises of a syllogism)

mixture, collection, motley, potpourri, variety, assortment, miscellany, miscellanea

n. a collection containing a variety of sorts of things; "a great assortment of cars was on display"; "he had a variety of disorders"; "a veritable smorgasbord of religions"

settlement

n. a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it

suspension, suspension system

n. a mechanical system of springs or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis of a wheeled vehicle

suspension, dangling, hanging

n. the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely); "there was a small ceremony for the hanging of the portrait"

resolution, answer, solution, result

key

n. a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations

blend, portmanteau word

clarification, elucidation

n. an interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding; "the professor's clarification helped her to understand the textbook"

conclusion

n. the proposition arrived at by logical reasoning (such as the proposition that must follow from the major and minor premises of a syllogism)

mixture, collection, motley, potpourri, variety, assortment, miscellany, miscellanea

n. a collection containing a variety of sorts of things; "a great assortment of cars was on display"; "he had a variety of disorders"; "a veritable smorgasbord of religions"

settlement

n. a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it

suspension, suspension system

n. a mechanical system of springs or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis of a wheeled vehicle

suspension, dangling, hanging

n. the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely); "there was a small ceremony for the hanging of the portrait"

reef

n. a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water

bar

n. a submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore; "the boat ran aground on a submerged bar in the river"

sandbank

n. a submerged bank of sand near a shore or in a river; can be exposed at low tide

shoal

n. a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide

spit, tongue

n. a narrow strip of land that juts out into the sea

catalog, catalogue

v. make an itemized list or catalog of; classify; "He is cataloguing his photographic negatives"

central

adj. in or near a center or constituting a center; the inner area; "a central position"; "central heating and air conditioning"

polar, pivotal

adj. being of crucial importance; "a pivotal event"; "Its pivotal location has also exposed it to periodic invasions"- Henry Kissinger; "the polar events of this study"; "a polar principal"

first

adj. preceding all others in time or space or degree; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training"

vital, life-sustaining

adj. performing an essential function in the living body; "vital organs"; "blood and other vital fluids"; "the loss of vital heat in shock"; "a vital spot"; "life-giving love and praise"

constitutional, integral, inherent, built-in, inbuilt

adj. existing as an essential constituent or characteristic; "the Ptolemaic system with its built-in concept of periodicity"; "a constitutional inability to tell the truth"

component, constituent

adj. constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)

essential

adj. basic and fundamental; "the essential feature"

necessary

adj. absolutely essential

capital, great, majuscule

adj. uppercase; "capital A"; "great A"; "many medieval manuscripts are in majuscule script"

prime

adj. used of the first or originating agent; "prime mover"

constitutional, constituent, constitutive, organic

adj. constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)

basic, staple

adj. necessary foods or commodities; "wheat is a staple crop"

indispensable

adj. not to be dispensed with; essential; "foods indispensable to good nutrition"

Synonyms (25)

essential, crucial, all-important, all important, of the essence

adj. of the greatest importance; "the all-important subject of disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"

alpha

adj. first in order of importance; "the alpha male in the group of chimpanzees"; "the alpha star in a constellation is the brightest or main star"

big

adj. significant; "graduation was a big day in his life"

burning

adj. of immediate import; "burning issues of the day"

primary, main, chief, principal

adj. most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"

eventful, consequential

adj. having important issues or results; "the year's only really consequential legislation"; "an eventful decision"

Copernican

adj. of radical or major importance; "a Copernican revolution in modern art"

great, distinguished, eminent

adj. (used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation; "our distinguished professor"; "an eminent scholar"; "a great statesman"

historic

adj. important in history; "the historic first voyage to outer space"

in-chief

adj. indicating the head of a staff; "editor-in-chief"

measurable

adj. of distinguished importance; "a measurable figure in literature"

serious, weighty

adj. of great consequence; "marriage is a serious matter"

strategic

adj. highly important to or an integral part of a strategy or plan of action especially in war; "a strategic chess move"; "strategic withdrawal"; "strategic bombing missions"

valuable

adj. having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange; "another human being equally valuable in the sight of God"; "a valuable diamond"

Antonyms (2)

atonality, atonalism

n. the absence of a key; alternative to the diatonic system

key

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