Idioms for key

    power of the keys, the authority of a pope in ecclesiastical matters, vested in him as successor of St. Peter.

Origin of key

1
before 900; Middle English key(e), kay(e), Old English cǣg, cǣge; cognate with Old Frisian kei, kai

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH key

cay key quay

Definition for key (2 of 4)

key 2
[ kee ]
/ ki /

noun, plural keys.

a reef or low island; cay.

Origin of key

2
1690–1700; < Spanish cayo, probably < Arawak

Definition for key (3 of 4)

key 3
[ kee ]
/ ki /

noun, plural keys. Slang.

a kilogram of marijuana or a narcotic drug.

Origin of key

3
1965–70, Americanism; shortening and respelling of kilogram

Definition for key (4 of 4)

Key
[ kee ]
/ ki /

noun

Francis Scott,1780–1843, U.S. lawyer: author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Example sentences from the Web for key

British Dictionary definitions for key (1 of 3)

key 1
/ (kiː) /

noun

adjective

of great importance; crucial a key issue

verb (mainly tr)

See also key in, key up

Derived forms of key

keyless, adjective

Word Origin for key

Old English cǣg; related to Old Frisian kēi, Middle Low German keie spear

British Dictionary definitions for key (2 of 3)

key 2
/ (kiː) /

noun

a variant spelling of cay

British Dictionary definitions for key (3 of 3)

Key
/ (kiː) /

noun

John (Phillip). born 1961, New Zealand politician; prime minister from 2008

Scientific definitions for key

key
[ kē ]

See cay.

Cultural definitions for key

key

The main or central note of a piece of music (or part of a piece of music). Each key has its own scale, beginning and ending on the note that defines the octave of the next scale. The key of C-major uses a scale that starts on C and uses only the white keys of the piano. In a piece composed in the key of C, the music is likely to end on the note C, and certain combinations of notes based on C will predominate.

Idioms and Phrases with key

key