key
(noun, adjective)
LISTEN
A car key.
A key is something that we use to open a door.
- We got the keys to our new house today.
A key is also something that we push down to make something happen.
- A piano has two types of keys: black and white.
If something is key, it means that it is important, or the most important.
- We learned about the key events of World War II.
Related words
A keyboard is part of a computer. We use it to write. Computer keyboards have lots of different keys with letters and numbers on them. There’s also a musical instrument called a keyboard. It’s like a piano but smaller, and it uses electricity.
In pop culture
In this video from the first Harry Potter movie, Harry and his friends have to find a key so they can open a door. The problem is that there are thousands of keys… and they can fly! How does Harry get the right key?
There are other meanings of key.
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