10. (Mus.) (a) 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. (b) The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote. Both warbling of one song, both in one key. Shak.
11. Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance. You fall at once into a lower key. Cowper. Key bed. Same as Key seat. — Key bolt, a bolt which has a mortise near the end, and is secured by a cotter or wedge instead of a nut. Key bugle. See Kent bugle. — Key of a position or country. (Mil.) See Key, 4. — Key seat (Mach.), a bed or groove to receive a key which prevents one part from turning on the other. — Key way, a channel for a key, in the hole of a piece which is keyed to a shaft; an internal key seat; — called also key seat. — Key wrench (Mach.), an adjustable wrench in which the movable jaw is made fast by a key. — Power of the keys (Eccl.), the authority claimed by the ministry in some Christian churches to administer the discipline of the church, and to grant or withhold its privileges; — so called from the declaration of Christ, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Matt. xvi. 19.
KEY
Key, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Keved; p. pr. & vb. n. Keying.]
Defn: To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges. Francis. To key up. (a) (Arch.) To raise (the whole ring of an arch) off its centering, by driving in the keystone forcibly. (b) (Mus.) To raise the pitch of. (c) Hence, fig., to produce nervous tension in.
KEYAGE
Key"age, n. Etym: [OF.caiage, F. guayage. See lst Key, Quay.]
Defn: Wharfage; quayage.
KEYBOARD
Key"board`, n.
Defn: The whole arrangement, or one range, of the keys of an organ, typewriter, etc.
KEY-COLD
Key"-cold`, a.
Defn: Cold as a metallic key; lifeless. [Formerly, a proverbial expression.] Shak. Milton.