Key vs. Main — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Key and Main
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Definitions
Key
A notched and grooved, usually metal implement that is turned to open or close a lock.
Main
Most important; principal.
Key
A similar implement or an electronic device used for opening, winding, or starting something
The key of a wind-up alarm clock.
The new car's electronic key.
Main
Exerted to the utmost; sheer
"They took her off the sled by main strength" (Jack London).
Key
A device, such as a wedge or pin, inserted to lock together mechanical or structural parts.
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Main
(Nautical) Connected to or located near the mainmast
A main skysail.
Key
A keycard.
Main
(Obsolete) Of or relating to a continuous area or stretch, as of land or water.
Key
A determining factor in accomplishing or achieving something
One key to the store's success has been consistent customer service.
Main
The chief or largest part
His ideas are, in the main, impractical.
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Key
Something that provides access to or understanding of something else
The key to the mystery was a drug store receipt.
Main
The principal pipe or conduit in a system for conveying water, gas, oil, or other utility.
Key
A set of answers to a test.
Main
Physical strength
Fought with might and main.
Key
A table, gloss, or cipher containing correspondences, as for decoding or interpreting something.
Main
A mainland.
Key
(Computers) A number used by a cryptographic algorithm to encrypt or decrypt data.
Main
The open ocean.
Key
(Architecture) The keystone in the crown of an arch.
Main
A mainsail.
Key
A button or lever that is depressed to operate a machine.
Main
A mainmast.
Key
A button that is depressed to cause a corresponding character or function to be typed or executed by a typewriter or to be accepted as input by a computer.
Main
The main dish of a meal
"Unsurprisingly, the mains and their house-made condiments were the standouts of a recent meal" (Lindsey Tramuta).
Key
(Music) A button or lever that is depressed with the finger to produce or modulate the sound of an instrument, such as a clarinet or piano.
Main
Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
Key
A tonal system consisting of seven tones in fixed relationship to a tonic, having a characteristic key signature and being the structural foundation of the bulk of Western music; tonality.
Main
Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.
Main timbers
Main branch of a river
Main body of an army
Key
The principal tonality of a work
An etude in the key of E.
Main
Full, sheer, undivided.
Key
The pitch of a voice or other sound.
Main
(dialectal) Big; angry.
Key
A characteristic tone or level of intensity, as of a speech or sales campaign. Often used in combination
High-key.
Low-key.
Main
(nautical) Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.
Key
(Botany) A samara.
Main
(obsolete) Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.
Key
An outline of the distinguishing characteristics of a group of organisms, used as a guide in taxonomic identification.
Main
Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.
Key
(Basketball) An area at each end of the court between the baseline and the foul line and including the jump-ball circle at the foul line
A jump shot from the top of the key.
Main
To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game.
He mains the same character as me in that game.
What race do you main and what is your favourite race to beat?
For new players, I recommend maining the dagger and using the axe as a backup weapon.
Key
The act of replacing portions of a video or photograph containing a preselected color with material from a separate image, as by chroma key.
Main
(obsolete) To convert (a road) into a main or primary road.
Key
A low offshore island or reef, especially in the Gulf of Mexico; a cay.
Main
That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
Key
A kilogram of marijuana, cocaine, or heroin.
Main
(video gaming) The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.
My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well.
Key
Of crucial importance; significant
Key decisions.
The key element of the thesis.
Main
A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.
Key
To lock with a key.
Main
(informal) dish]] of a meal
I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.
Key
To be the determining or crucial factor in
A double that keyed a three-run rally in the fifth inning.
Main
The high seas.
Key
(Architecture) To furnish (an arch) with a keystone.
Main
The mainland.
Key
(Music) To regulate the pitch of.
Main
(nautical) mainsail
Key
To bring into harmony; adjust or adapt
"achievement tests that are more clearly keyed to what students are held responsible for in high school" (New York Times).
Main
Force, power, strength, violent effort.
Key
To cause to pay attention to
School officials who were keyed into the dietary needs of students.
Main
A hand or match in a game of dice.
Key
To supply with a key of correspondences or with corresponding references
Keyed the pages in the edited book to illustrations in the manuscript.
Main
The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown.
Key
To operate (a device), as for typesetting, by means of a keyboard.
Main
A stake played for at dice.
Key
To enter (data) into a computer by means of a keyboard.
Main
A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match.
Key
To identify (a biological specimen).
Main
A banker's shovel for coins.
Key
To vandalize or mar by scratching with a key
Vandals keyed the cars left in the parking garage.
Main
A basket for gathering grapes.
Key
To produce, replace, or include by chroma key.
Main
A hand or match at dice.
Key
To pay close attention; focus
Improved service by keying on customer complaints.
Keyed into the main points of the lecture.
Main
A stake played for at dice.
Key
(Sports) To watch or cover an opposing player closely in an effort to limit the player's effectiveness. Used with on
"[She] still carries the burden of scoring ... even though opponents key on her throughout every game" (Josh Barr).
Main
The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard.
Key
To replace portions of a video or photograph containing a preselected color with material from a separate image, as by chroma key.
Main
A match at cockfighting.
Key
An object designed to open and close a lock.
Main
A main-hamper.
Key
An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
Main
Strength; force; might; violent effort.
There were in this battle of most might and main.
He 'gan advance,With huge force, and with importable main.
Key
A crucial step or requirement.
The key to solving this problem is persistence.
The key to winning a game
Main
The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing.
Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters.
Key
A guide explaining the symbols or terminology of a map or chart; a legend.
The key says that A stands for the accounting department.
Main
The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean.
With might and main they chased the murderous fox.
Key
A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
Some students cheated by using the answer key.
Main
Very or extremely strong.
That current with main fury ran.
Key
(computing) One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.
Press the Escape key.
Main
Vast; huge.
Key
(music)
Main
Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer.
Key
In musical instruments, one of the valve levers used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind.
Main
Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent.
Our main interest is to be happy as we can.
Key
In instruments with a keyboard such as an organ or piano, one of the levers, or especially the exposed front end of it, which are depressed to cause a particular sound or note to be produced.
Main
Important; necessary.
That which thou arightBelievest so main to our success, I bring.
That Maine which by main force Warwick did win.
Key
(music) A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.
The key of B-flat major
Main
Very; extremely; as, main heavy.
Key
The lowest note of a scale; keynote.
Main
Any very large body of (salt) water
Key
In musical theory, the total melodic and harmonic relations, which exist between the tones of an ideal scale, major or minor; tonality.
Main
A principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage
Key
In musical theory and notation, the tonality centering in a given tone, or the several tones taken collectively, of a given scale, major or minor.
Main
Most important element;
The chief aim of living
The main doors were of solid glass
The principal rivers of America
The principal example
Policemen were primary targets
Key
In musical notation, a sign at the head of a staff indicating the musical key.
Main
Of a clause; able to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence;
The main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb
Key
(figurative) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
Main
Of force; of the greatest possible intensity;
By main strength
Key
(advertising) A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.
Key
(botany) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.
Key
(historical) A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.
Key
(cryptography) A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
Key
(internet) A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
Key
(databases) In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
Key
(computing) A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.
Key
(basketball) The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line, the free-throw lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole.
He shoots from the top of the key.
Key
(biology) A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.
Key
(architecture) A piece of wood used as a wedge.
Key
(architecture) The last board of a floor when laid down.
Key
(masonry) A keystone.
Key
That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.
Key
(rail transport) A wooden support for a rail on the bullhead rail system.
Key
The degree of roughness, or retention ability of a surface to have applied a liquid such as paint, or glue.
The door panel should be sanded down carefully to provide a good key for the new paint.
Key
(cartomancy) The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck.
Key
(print and film) The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK.
Key
A color to be masked or made transparent.
Key
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Key
One of a string of small islands.
The Florida Keys
Key
(slang) kilogram (especially of a recreational drug)
Key
Indispensable, supremely important.
He is the key player on his soccer team.
Key
Important, salient.
She makes several key points.
Key
To fit (a lock) with a key.
Key
To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
Key
To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
Key
(telegraphy and radio telegraphy) To depress (a telegraph key).
Key
(radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
Key
(computing) (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
Our instructor told us to key in our user IDs.
Key
(colloquial) To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.
He keyed the car that had taken his parking spot.
Key
To link (as one might do with a key or legend).
Key
To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.
Key
To modify (an advertisement) so as to target a particular group or demographic.
Key
To attune to; to set at; to pitch.
Key
To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
Key
To prepare for plastering by adding the key that part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.
Key
An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place.
Key
A small device which is inserted into a mechanism and turned like a key to fasten, adjust, or wind it; as, a watch key; a bed key; the winding key for a clock, etc.
Key
One of a set of small movable parts on an instrument or machine which, by being depressed, serves as the means of operating it; the complete set of keys is usually called the keyboard; as, the keys of a piano, an organ, an accordion, a computer keyboard, or of a typewriter. The keys may operate parts of the instrument by a mechanical action, as on a piano, or by closing an electrical circuit, as on a computer keyboard. See also senses 12 and 13.
Key
A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation.
Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books.
Who keeps the keys of all the creeds.
Key
That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position.
Key
A piece of wood used as a wedge.
Key
A keystone.
Key
A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock.
Key
An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; - called also key fruit.
Key
A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key.
Both warbling of one song, both in one key.
Key
Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
You fall at once into a lower key.
Key
A metallic lever by which the circuit of the sending or transmitting part of a station equipment may be easily and rapidly opened and closed; as, a telegraph key.
Key
Any device for closing or opening an electric circuit, especially as part of a keyboard, as that used at a computer terminal or teletype terminal.
Key
A simplified version or analysis which accompanies something as a clue to its explanation, a book or table containing the solutions to problems, ciphers, allegories, or the like;
Key
A word or other combination of symbols which serves as an index identifying and pointing to a particular record, file, or location which can be retrieved and displayed by a computer program; as, a database using multi-word keys. When the key is a word, it is also called a keyword.
Key
To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
Key
To enter (text, data) using keys, especially those on a keyboard; to keyboard; as, to key the data in by hand.
Key
To adjust so as to be maximally effective in a particular situation; - of actions, plans, or speech; as, to key one's campaign speech to each local audience.
Key
To furnish with a key or keys.
Key
Essential; most important; as, the key fact in the inquiry; the president was the key player inthe negotiations.
Key
Metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
Key
Something crucial for explaining;
The key to development is economic integration
Key
Pitch of the voice;
He spoke in a low key
Key
Any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music
Key
A kilogram of a narcotic drug;
They were carrying two keys of heroin
Key
A winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple
Key
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)
Key
A coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
Key
(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
Key
A list of answers to a test;
Some students had stolen the key to the final exam
Key
A list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations
Key
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
Key
Mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)
Key
The central building block at the top of an arch or vault
Key
A lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed
Key
Identify as in botany or biology, for example
Key
Provide with a key;
We were keyed after the locks were changed in the building
Key
Vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key;
His new Mercedes was keyed last night in the parking lot
Key
Regulate the musical pitch of
Key
Harmonize with or adjust to;
Key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude
Key
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
Key
Effective; producing a desired effect;
The operative word
