-
a piece of metal with a special shape used for locking a door, starting a car, etc. 鑰匙 
to put/turn the key in the lock 把鑰匙放進鎖裏/轉動鑰匙 He inserted the key in the lock and let himself into the house. 他把鑰匙插進鎖裏，讓自己進屋。 the car keys 汽車鑰匙 a set/bunch of keys 一套/一串鑰匙 - key to something
the spare key to the front door 前門備用鑰匙 We'll have a duplicate key cut (= made). 我們會配一把鑰匙。 - key for something
Luckily Dad has keys for my house. 幸運的是，爸爸有我家的鑰匙。 - key for doing something
There's a special key for winding up this clock. 有一把特殊的鑰匙可以給這個鐘上弦。
Homophones key | quaykey quaysee also Allen key™, key card, master key, pass key- key noun
She quietly turned the key in the lock. 她悄悄地轉動鎖裏的鑰匙。
- key adjective
Fresh eggs are a key ingredient for a tasty cake. 新鮮雞蛋是美味蛋糕的關鍵成分。
- key verb
Customers have to key their PIN for amounts over £30. 金額超過30英鎊的客戶必須輸入個人識别碼。
- quay noun
The constant coming and going of ferries makes the quay a bustling place. 渡船的不斷來往使碼頭成爲一個繁忙的地方。
Extra ExamplesHe fished a ring of keys out of his pocket. 他從口袋裏摸出了一串鑰匙。 I'd accidentally locked the keys in my car. 我意外地把鑰匙鎖在了車裏。 She hides a front door key in a flowerpot. 她在花盆裏藏了一把前門鑰匙。 You need a key to open the garage. 打開車庫要用鑰匙。 The sound of keys jangling caught her attention. 鑰匙叮當作響的聲音引起了她的注意。 They heard a key turn in the back door lock. 他們聽到後門的鎖有鑰匙轉動的聲音。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- master
- skeleton
- duplicate
- …
- bunch
- ring
- set
- …
- turn
- insert
- put in
- …
- open
- unlock
- lock
- …
- with a/the key
- key for
- key to
- …
- get a key cut
- [usually singular]
a thing that makes you able to understand or achieve something 關鍵；要訣 Persistence is the key if you want to get a job. 想找工作，堅持是關鍵。 - key to something
The key to success is preparation. 成功的關鍵是準備。 First-time voters could hold the key to the election result. 第一次投票的人可能會對選舉結果起關鍵作用。 - key to doing something
The driver of the car probably holds the key to solving the crime. 這位汽車司機很可能掌握偵破這一罪案的關鍵證據。 Language is the key to understanding those around you. 語言是理解周圍人的關鍵。 - (especially North American English)
The key is, how long can the federal government control the inflation rate? 關鍵在於聯邦政府對通貨膨脹率的控制能維持多久？
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + key- have
- hold
- key to
-
any of the buttons that you press to operate a computer, phone or typewriter （計算機或打字機的）鍵 
Press the return key to enter the information. 按回車鍵錄入信息。 You can use the arrow keys on the keyboard instead. 你可以用鍵盤上的箭頭鍵來代替。 He began tapping on the keys of his laptop. 他開始敲筆記本電腦的鍵。
Extra ExamplesTopics Computersb1F1 is the short-cut key for calling up help. F1 是查看幫助信息的快捷鍵。 Hold down the Alt key while pressing the arrow keys. 按箭頭鍵的同時按住替換鍵。 the top row of keys 最上面的那排鍵
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- Alt
- arrow
- backspace
- …
- row
- hit
- hold down
- press
- …
-
any of the wooden or metal parts that you press to play a piano and some other musical instruments （鋼琴或其他樂器的）鍵 
His hands flew over the piano keys. 他的手掠過鋼琴鍵。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- organ
- piano
- etc.
- …
- caress
- stroke
- touch
- …
a set of related notes, based on a particular note. Pieces of music are usually written mainly using a particular key. 調 a sonata in the key of E flat major 一首降 E 大調奏鳴曲 This piece changes key many times. 這支曲子變了多次調。
Extra ExamplesTopics Musicc1Can we try it in a lower key? 我們能用低一點兒的調試試嗎？ The key changes from C major to A minor. 音調從 C 大調變爲 A 小調。 What key is it in? 這個用什麽調？
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- minor
- high
- …
- change
- change
- change
- signature
- in a/the key
- key of
- a change of key
a set of answers to exercises or problems 答案；題解 an explanation of the symbols used on a map or plan （地圖或平面圖的）符號說明，圖例 
You can find the symbols in the key at the bottom of the page. 這些符號可以在頁底的符號說明中找到。
see also low-key
tool for lock開鎖工具
most important thing最重要的事
on computer計算機
on musical instrument樂器
music音樂
answers答案
on map地圖
Word OriginOld English cǣg, cǣge, of unknown origin.
Idioms
(keep something/put something/be) under lock and key