ˈkɑː.dɪ.nəl ˈkɑɹdɪnəl kiː ˈsɛntɹəl dəˈskɹaɪb dɪsˈkʌvə dɪsˈkʌvɚ dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃ ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl aɪˈdɛn.tɪ.faɪ

ˈkiː.stəʊn peɪnt ˈpɹaɪməl ˈsæmərə ˈsæmərə ˈwaɪndɚ harmonize with or adjust to key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude regulate the musical pitch of identify as in botany or biology, for example serving as an essential component a cardinal rule the central cause of the problem an example that was fundamental to the argument computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot provide with a key We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated a lever (as in a keyboard) that actuates a mechanism when depressed the central building block at the top of an arch or vault mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock) pitch of the voice he spoke in a low key something crucial for explaining the key to development is economic integration a generic term for any device whose possession entitles the holder to a means of access a safe-deposit box usually requires two keys to open it a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations a list of answers to a test some students had stolen the key to the final exam any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music (basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court he hit a jump shot from the top of the key he dominates play in the paint a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple a kilogram of a narcotic drug they were carrying two keys of heroin