key

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ORDER BY key ASC, v DESC, src DESC; skip the first row for each key if the second row for the key is the same v, conflict, don't compact for this key

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Definitions (131)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (35)

  1. noun A notched and grooved, usually metal implement that is turned to open or close a lock.
  2. noun A similar device used for opening or winding: the key of a clock; a can that has a key attached.
  3. noun A means of access, control, or possession.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (72)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (3)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (21)

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Examples (50)

  • In my experience, the key is Turkish cotton terry. —  Ask MetaFilter
  • But the key is a bunker that sits smack in the middle-front of the green.
  • Michigan State guard Travis Walton said the key was the start. —  IndyStar.com Top Stories
  • The word "alt" was added around the time when Apple started offering DOS compatibility cards, but the real name of the key was always "option". —  Original Signal - Transmitting Digg
  • This key is automatically imported into the RPM database (on RPMv4-based distributions) and the gpg key ring of 'root' during installation. —  LinuxSecurity.com - Security Advisories
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This word has been looked up 149 times.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

new ·  major ·  data ·  standard ·  individual

Used in the same contextWord Family

key:   keys ·  Key ·  Keys ·  keying ·  keyed
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (7)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. Middle English kai, kei, from Old English cǣg.
  2. Alteration (influenced by key, variant of quay) of Spanish cayo; see cay.
  3. Shortening and alteration of kilogram.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (4)

  1. Early modern English also keie, kay, etc.; from Middle English keye, keie, keiʒe, also cay, kay, from Anglo-Saxon cǣg, cǣge = OFries. kai, kei, North Friesic kay, a key; not found in other languages.
  2. from key, n.
  3. Formerly also kay (and now quay, after modern F. quai, the pronunciation, however, remaining that of the reg. English form key); from Middle English key, keye (= Dutch kaai = Low German kaje = German kai = Swedish kaj = Danish kai; Middle Latin caium), from Old French caye, quai, quay, French quai, a wharf, prob. from Breton kai, an inclosure, = Welsh cae, an inclosure, hedge, field.
  4. Also cay, kay; from Spanish cayo, a low island, a sandbank, key; perhaps = Old French caye, French quai, a wharf: see key.
 

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