~ 1
■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 a small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into the lock and rotated to open or close it or to operate a switch.
↘an instrument for grasping and turning a screw, peg, or nut.
↘a pin, bolt, or wedge inserted into a hole or between parts so as to lock the parts together.
2》 a lever depressed by the finger in playing an instrument such as the organ, piano, flute, or concertina.
3》 each of several buttons on a panel for operating a typewriter, word processor, or computer terminal.
4》 a lever operating a mechanical device for making or breaking an electric circuit.
5》 a thing that provides access to or understanding of something: a ~ to success.
↘an explanatory list of symbols used in a map or table.
↘a set of answers to exercises or problems.
↘a word or system for solving a cipher or code.
↘the first move in the solution of a chess problem.
6》 Music a group of notes based on a particular note and comprising a scale, regarded as forming the tonal basis of a passage of music.
↘the tone or pitch of someone's voice.
7》 the dry winged fruit of an ash, maple, or sycamore; a samara.
8》 roughness on a surface, provided to assist adhesion of plaster or other material.
9》 Basketball the ~hole-shaped area marked on the court near each basket.
■ adjective of crucial importance: a ~ figure.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed )
1》 enter or operate on (data) by means of a computer ~board.
2》 fasten into position with a pin, wedge, or bolt.
3》 ( ~ to ) chiefly N. Amer. link with.
↘( ~ into/in with ) be connected or in harmony with.
4》 ( be ~ed up ) be nervous, tense, or excited.
5》 roughen (a surface) to assist adhesion of plaster or other material.
Phrases
in (or out of ) ~ in (or out of) harmony.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~er noun
~less adjective
Origin
OE cg , cge , of unknown origin.
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~ 2
■ noun a low-lying island or reef, especially off the coast of Florida or in the Caribbean.
Origin
C17: from Sp. cayo 'reef', influenced by quay .