kaie

Noun

key (plural keys)

1. (countable) An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed).
   • This key is to the backdoor.
   1. (countable) A card or fob that electronically signals a lock to open.
      • My hotel room key is a card.
   2. (countable, figuratively) A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
   3. (Internet, countable) A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
      • if you know someone who is in the channel, you can query them and ask for the key.2000, Robert Erdec, “Re: Help; mIRC32; unable to resolve server arnes.si”, in alt.irc.mirc (Usenet)
   4. (countable, slang) A key bump (A portion of a recreational drug in powdered form that is snorted from a key or similar small object.)
      • I saw him snort a key at the party.
   5. (countable) Any of various tools comparable to a wrench (spanner) or driver, which have a specialized end that matches a fixture, analogously to a lock's key.
      • The exterminator will bring a key thingy that can open the bait boxes.

See all 59 meanings of key