Key (Verb)
Meaning 1
Provide with a key; "We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- The landlord was supposed to key the new tenants the day they moved in but never did.
- Employees without a key swipe card will not be able to enter the building after hours.
- All of the apartments have a unique lock and we were keyed on moving day.
- The new office manager was responsible for keying all of the new staff members.
- To prevent unauthorized entry, building management made sure to re-key the offices every six months.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Regulate the musical pitch of.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The singer had to key her voice to that of the guitarist for a perfect harmony in the song.
- The audio engineer carefully keyed the keyboard sounds to match the bass guitar during the live performance.
- It was challenging for her to key her vocals to the melancholic tune as the singer wasn't used to that pitch.
- They had to key the strings very carefully in order to play the sweet and smooth notes needed for the classical song.
- He struggled to key his instrument to the song, but eventually, the musician managed to get everything in tune.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Harmonize with or adjust to; "key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The marketing team will key their advertising strategy to the target audience's demographics and preferences.
- Managers should key their decisions to the company's long-term goals rather than short-term gains.
- To be an effective leader, you must key your communication style to your audience and the situation.
- The policymakers keyed their new regulations to the public's growing concern about environmental issues.
- She will key her presentation to the time constraints and focus on delivering the most critical information.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Identify as in botany or biology, for example.
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- The biologist used a guide to key out the species of the unusual plant specimen found in the forest.
- To key a specimen, researchers typically examine its habitat and the shape of its leaves and flowers.
- A botanist would usually key a mushroom by first looking at its cap, then its stem, and finally its gills or pores.
- By applying the characteristics of the specimen to the key, the student was able to determine that it was a type of maple tree.
- Laboratory technicians can key a piece of tissue by matching its microscopic features with those listed in reference materials.
Synonyms
Meaning 5
Vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key; "His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Someone vandalized her car and keyed the entire side panel with a sharp object.
- The sports team's bus was keyed by an angry rival fan after they lost the game.
- If you leave your car on the street overnight, there's a high chance it will get keyed.
- The disgruntled employee was fired and keyed his former boss's expensive car in the parking lot.
- The police had to review the security footage to find out who keyed the new SUV.