a children's cry for truce or respite from the rules of a game
Word origin
origin uncertain
Examples of 'keys' in a sentence
keys
I can keep her collared for quite some time, while I'm waiting for the keys to arrive from Hythria.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
He fumbled in the pockets of his leather jacket, coming out with a bunch of keys.
Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATION (2001)
The walls were tiled in a delicate pattern of golden stars, towers, and silver keys.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
All related terms of 'keys'
key
A key is a specially shaped piece of metal that you place in a lock and turn in order to open or lock a door, or to start or stop the engine of a vehicle.
cay
a small low island or bank composed of sand and coral fragments , esp in the Caribbean area
car keys
a key or keys used to lock , unlock , and operate an automobile
Florida Keys
chain of small islands extending southwest from the S tip of Fla.
House of Keys
the lower chamber of the legislature of the Isle of Man
hex key
an L-shaped tool consisting of a rod having a hexagonal cross section , used to turn a screw ( Allen screw ) with a hexagonal recess in the head. A different size of key is required for each size of screw
hot key
A hot key is a key, or a combination of keys, on a computer keyboard that you can press in order to make something happen , without having to type the full instructions .
key in
If you key something in , you put information into a computer or you give the computer a particular instruction by typing the information or instruction on the keyboard.
key up
to raise the intensity, excitement , tension , etc, of
nut key
a tool for extracting a nut , chock , etc, from a crack after use
tab key
on a computer or typewriter keyboard , the key you press to move forward along a line for a few spaces at a time
USB key
a small portable memory device that can be plugged into the USB port of many different types of computer
Allen key
an L-shaped tool consisting of a rod having a hexagonal cross section, used to turn a screw ( Allen screw ) with a hexagonal recess in the head. A different size of key is required for each size of screw
dead key
a key on the keyboard of a typewriter which does not automatically advance the carriage when depressed
hash key
the # key on a keyboard or keypad
hex key wrench
an L-shaped tool consisting of a rod having a hexagonal cross section , used to turn a screw ( Allen screw ) with a hexagonal recess in the head. A different size of key is required for each size of screw
high-key
(of a photograph , painting , etc) having a predominance of light grey tones or light colours
major key
a key based upon the major scale
minor key
a key based on notes taken from a corresponding minor scale
prong key
a key or spanner with two prongs or projections which engage corresponding holes in the face of a nut or component to be turned for tightening , adjustment , etc
room key
A room key is a key given to a guest in a hotel in order to open or lock the door of their room.
shift key
a key on a typewriter or computer keyboard used to type capital letters and certain numbers and symbols
church key
a device with a triangular point at one end for making holes in the tops of cans
escape key
a key on a computer keyboard used to leave a computer-program sequence before its end, in order to commence another sequence
master key
A master key is a key which will open all the locks in a set, even though each lock has its own different key.
return key
the key on a keyboard which moves the cursor to the next line
toggle key
a key that allows you to switch to a different option , view, application , etc
tuning key
a device that may be placed over a wrest pin on a piano , etc, and turned to alter the tension and pitch of a string
command key
(on a computer keyboard ) a key used when executing commands
control key
a key on the keyboard of a computer that is used in conjunction with the standard keys in order to initiate a specific function, such as editing
feather key
a rectangular key connecting the keyways of a shaft and a hub of a gear , pulley , etc., fastened in one keyway and free to slide in the other so that the hub can drive or be driven by the shaft at various positions along it
function key
Function keys are the keys along the top of a computer keyboard, usually numbered from F 1 to F12. Each key is designed to make a particular thing happen when you press it.
ignition key
the key used in a motor vehicle to turn the switch that connects the battery to the ignition system and other electrical devices
skeleton key
A skeleton key is a key which has been specially made so that it will open many different locks.
Woodruff key
a semicircular key restrained in a curved keyway in a shaft
backspace key
a key on a typewriter or computer keyboard that makes the carriage or cursor move backwards one space
backspacer
a key on a typewriter or computer keyboard that makes the carriage or cursor move backwards one space
dichotomous key
a key used to identify a plant or animal in which each stage presents descriptions of two distinguishing characters, with a direction to another stage in the key, until the species is identified
relative major key
a major key that has the same key signature as a minor key, but a different tonic
relative minor key
a minor key that has the same key signature as a major key, but a different tonic
user-defined key
a key on the keyboard of a computer that can be used to carry out any of a limited number of predefined actions as selected by the user