| 释义 |
noun | adjective | verb keykey1 /ki/ ●●● S1 W2 noun (plural keys) [countable] ► car/house keys Do you know where my car keys are? ► hold the key to This witness could hold the key to the whole case. ► in the key of The song is played in the key of G. 1 LOCK a small specially shaped piece of metal that you put into a lock and turn in order to lock or unlock a door, start a car, etc.: key to the key to the safecar/house keys Do you know where my car keys are?2IMPORTANT PART the key the part of a plan, action, etc., that everything else depends on: key to Hard work is the key to success. This witness could hold the key to the whole case.3COMPUTER the buttons you press on a computer keyboardto make it work: Press the ESCAPE key to exit.4MUSIC eng. lang. arts a)the wooden or metal parts that you press on a piano and some wind instruments in order to play them: piano keys b)a scale of musical notes that begin with a particular base note, or the quality of sound that the scale has: a minor key The song is played in the key of G. → see also off-key5MAP/DRAWING the part of a map, technical drawing, etc. that explains the signs or symbols on it6TEST ANSWERS the printed answers to a test or to the questions in a textbook that are used to check your work SYN answer key7ISLAND earth science, geography a small flat island, especially one near the coast of Florida: the Florida Keys → see also low-key noun | adjective | verb keykey2 ●●○ S3 W3 adjective [no comparative] ETYMOLOGYkey2Origin: Old English cæg ► a key point/question/issue etc. the key points of her speech ► a key role/position He played a key role in the team’s victory. ► a key person/player/figure etc. (=the most important person in achieving a result, change, etc.) THESAURUShaving a big effect or influence on people or events, or having a lot of value or meaning to someone or something► importanthaving a big effect or influence on people or events, or having a lot of value or meaning to someone or something: She asked some important questions. I have an important meeting at work today. ► of great/considerable importance very important: Friends are of great importance to your child’s development. ► crucial very important and necessary, because other things depend on it: The U.S. plays a crucial role in the region. ► key very important and necessary for success or to understand something: Rondo and Garnett are two of the team’s key players. ► vital/essential/critical extremely important and necessary: The information was vital to the success of the battle. It’s essential that you bring water to drink if you are running in the race. ► imperative formal extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with immediately: It is absolutely imperative that we win this game, or we won’t be going to the playoffs. ► major having a very large or important effect, especially when compared to other things: Smoking is a major cause of lung disease. ► significant important and having a strong effect on what happens in the future: The new research is highly significant. ► profound formal having a very strong influence or effect on a situation, especially so that major changes happen: The writer’s experience of war had a profound effect on his work. ► momentous formal a momentous event, change, or decision has a much more important effect on the future than most events, changes, or decisions: The Civil War brought about momentous changes in American society. ► paramount formal more important than anything else: The needs of the customer should be paramount. bigger or more important than all other things, ideas, influences, etc. of the same kind► mainbigger or more important than all other things, ideas, influences, etc. of the same kind: We met at the main entrance of the building. Scout is the main character in the book. ► major very large, serious, or important: Democrats and Republicans are the two major political parties in the U.S. When the stock market crashed, many businesses had major losses. ► chief/principal chief and principal mean the same as main, but are more formal and are often used in written English: Saudi Arabia’s chief export is oil. The president said that budget concerns were his principal reason for making the decision. ► key very important and needed for success: The woman is a key witness in the trial, because she is the only one who saw the crime happen. ► primary most important or most basic. You use primary especially about the goal, role, cause, or concern that is most important: As always, the children’s safety is our primary concern. ► leading most important or most successful: Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Donahue is the basketball team’s leading scorer. ► prime most important or most likely: The organization’s prime objective is to raise money for homeless people. ► core most important, basic, and necessary: The company must decide on its core values, and communicate them to employees. ► central most important and having more influence than anything else: A central theme in the book is the role of women in his life. ► predominant most common, most noticeable, or most important: Anna was a little angry and confused, but her predominant feeling was surprise. very important and necessary for success or to understand something: the area’s key businesses Confidence is a key factor in any sport.key to Your support is key to the plan’s success.a key point/question/issue etc. the key points of her speecha key role/position He played a key role in the team’s victory.a key person/player/figure etc. (=the most important person in achieving a result, change, etc.)► see thesaurus at important, main1 [Origin: Old English cæg] noun | adjective | verb keykey3 ●●○ verb [transitive] VERB TABLEkey |
| Present | I, you, we, they | key | | he, she, it | keys | | Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | keyed | | Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have keyed | | he, she, it | has keyed | | Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had keyed | | Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will key | | Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have keyed |
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| Present | I | am keying | | he, she, it | is keying | | you, we, they | are keying | | Past | I, he, she, it | was keying | | you, we, they | were keying | | Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been keying | | he, she, it | has been keying | | Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been keying | | Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be keying | | Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been keying |
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