bearing a stress or accent; "an iambic foot consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable as in `delay'"
suffering severe physical strain or distress; "he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing"; "the victim was in a bad way and needed immediate attention"
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 that actuates a mechanism when depressed
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
United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843)
a kilogram of a narcotic drug; "they were carrying two keys of heroin"
harmonize with or adjust to; "key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude"
regulate the musical pitch of
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"
using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness; "an economic use of home heating oil"; "a modern economical heating system"; "an economical use of her time"
financially rewarding; "it was no longer economic to keep the factory open"; "have to keep prices high enough to make it economic to continue the service"
concerned with worldly necessities of life (especially money); "he wrote the book primarily for economic reasons"; "gave up the large house for economic reasons"; "in economic terms they are very privileged"
of or relating to the science of economics; "economic theory"
of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth; "economic growth"; "aspects of social, political, and economical life"
direct one's interest or attention towards; go into; "The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction"; "People turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium"
avoiding waste; "an economical meal"; "an economical shopper"; "a frugal farmer"; "a frugal lunch"; "a sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their use of heat and light"; "stinting in bestowing gifts"; "thrifty because they remember the great Depression"; "`scotch' is used only informally"