Key - English meaning

noun

A thing that is said, written, or done as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation.

Usage examples:

He knocked and entered without waiting for an answer

verb

Say or write something as a reaction to someone or something.

Usage examples:

‘of course i can,’ she answered

verb

A statement made to reply to a question or criticism

adjective

Forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental.

Usage examples:

Certain basic rules must be obeyed

noun

The essential facts or principles of a subject or skill.

Usage examples:

I learnt the basics of programming on a course

noun

A simple high-level computer programming language that uses familiar english words, designed for beginners and formerly used widely.

Usage examples:

You could write your own software in the basic programming language

adjective

At the point or in the area that is in the middle of something.

Usage examples:

The station has a central courtyard

noun

A place with a high concentration of a specified type of person or thing.

Usage examples:

You're in workaholic central here

adjective

In, at, from, or near the center

Usage examples:

He grew up in central illinois., american novels often take money as their central concern., a cent…

noun

A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Usage examples:

The chief of the village

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

The chief reason for the spending cuts

adjective

Most important

Usage examples:

Their chief objection to the appointment was that she had no judicial experience., the chief econom…

noun

A piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime.

Usage examples:

Police officers are still searching for clues

verb

Inform someone about a particular matter.

Usage examples:

Stella had clued her in about peter

noun

The state of something with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order.

Usage examples:

The wiring is in good condition

verb

Have a significant influence on or determine (the manner or outcome of something).

Usage examples:

National choices are conditioned by the international political economy

adjective

Expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements.

Usage examples:

I was very critical of the previous regime

adjective

Of the greatest importance

Usage examples:

Critical industries, what happens in the next 48 hours is critical., he was admitted to metropolita…

adjective

Extremely important to the progress or success of something

Usage examples:

Critical to/for sth logistics and distribution are critical to an e-commerce venture's success., cr…

adjective

Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.

Usage examples:

Negotiations were at a crucial stage

adjective

(of a decision or event) extremely important because many other things depend on it

Usage examples:

The behavior of the oceans is a crucial aspect of global warming., the band wants to win over fans …

noun

A thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.

Usage examples:

She had not yet been given her cue to come out on to the dais

verb

Give a cue to or for.

Usage examples:

Ros and guil, cued by hamlet, also bow deeply

verb

Use a cue to strike the ball.

Usage examples:

Mark cued well early on

adjective

Settling an issue; producing a definite result.

Usage examples:

The archers played a decisive part in the victory

adjective

Making choices quickly and surely, without having any doubts

Usage examples:

In an emergency, decisive action is called for., dna test results were decisive in proving his inno…

adjective

Having power and influence over others.

Usage examples:

They are now in an even more dominant position in the market

noun

A dominant trait or gene.

Usage examples:

This disorder is inherited as a dominant

adjective

More important, strong, or noticeable than anything else of the same type

Usage examples:

A dominant personality, for years the democrats were the dominant party in congress., military domi…

adjective

Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Usage examples:

It is essential to keep up-to-date records

noun

A thing that is absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment

adjective

Extremely important or necessary

Usage examples:

A knowledge of spanish is essential for this job., there is an essential difference between the two…

noun

A statement or account that makes something clear.

Usage examples:

The birth rate is central to any explanation of population trends

noun

The details or other information that someone gives to make something clear or easy to understand

Usage examples:

[ c ] she gave a detailed explanation of the administration’s health-care proposal., [ c ] he had n…

noun

A mathematical relationship or rule expressed in symbols.

Usage examples:

The formula for the capacitance of a spherical capacitor

noun

The exact chemical parts that a mixture consists of

Usage examples:

[ c ] the company announced that it was changing its soft-drink formula to make it sweeter., [ c us…

noun

A standard or accepted way of doing something

Usage examples:

A formula for sth/for doing sth tandy had a simple formula for locating his stores: put them where …

adjective

Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.

Usage examples:

The protection of fundamental human rights

noun

A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.

Usage examples:

Two courses cover the fundamentals of microbiology

adjective

Being the most basic or most important thing on which other things depend

Usage examples:

Fundamental beliefs/principles, we need to make fundamental changes in the way we treat our environ…

noun

Shine or lustre on a smooth surface.

Usage examples:

Hair with a healthy gloss

verb

Apply a glossy substance to.

Usage examples:

The singer glossed her lips a deep red

verb

Provide an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase for (a text, word, etc.).

Usage examples:

The japanese word often glossed as ‘sincerity’ really means something different

noun

An alphabetical list of words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations; a brief dictionary.

Usage examples:

A glossary of inuktitut words

noun

An alphabetical list of difficult, technical, or foreign words in a text along with explanations of their meanings

noun

A person who shows the way to others, especially one employed to show tourists around places of interest.

Usage examples:

A tour guide

verb

Show or indicate the way to (someone).

Usage examples:

He guided her to the front row and sat beside her

verb

Someone employed to conduct others

adjective

Of great significance or value.

Usage examples:

Important habitats for wildlife

adjective

Of great value, meaning, or effect

Usage examples:

An important discovery, [ + that clause ] it’s important that you tell the doctor all your symptoms…

adjective

Absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

He made himself indispensable to the parish priest

verb

Cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward.

Usage examples:

She emerged leading a bay horse

noun

The initiative in an action; an example for others to follow.

Usage examples:

Britain is now taking the lead in environmental policies

noun

A soft, heavy, ductile bluish-grey metal, the chemical element of atomic number 82. it has been used in roofing, plumbing, ammunition, storage batteries, radiation shields, etc., and its compounds have been used in crystal glass, as an anti-knock agent in petrol, and (formerly) in paints.

Usage examples:

There's evidence that heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can make osteoporosis worse.

adjective

Most important.

Usage examples:

A number of leading politicians

noun

Guidance or leadership, especially in a spiritual context.

Usage examples:

Things can be learned in many ways (spiritual leading is one way you pointed).

noun

The amount of blank space between lines of print.

Usage examples:

Most scrapbookers don't know what kerning or leading are and how to adjust them accordingly.

adjective

Chief in size or importance.

Usage examples:

A main road

noun

A principal pipe carrying water or gas to buildings, or taking sewage from them.

Usage examples:

A faulty gas main

noun

(in the game of hazard) a number (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) called by a player before dice are thrown.

adjective

Important, serious, or significant.

Usage examples:

The use of drugs is a major problem

noun

A rank of officer in the army and the us air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.

Usage examples:

One e-mail avowed that too many majors and lieutenant colonels flounder in their first joint assign…

verb

Short for major suit.

Usage examples:

South was anxious to mention his four-card major and bid one spade

verb

Intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing); signify.

Usage examples:

I don't know what you mean

noun

The value obtained by dividing the sum of several quantities by their number; an average.

Usage examples:

Acid output was calculated by taking the mean of all three samples

plural noun

An action or system by which a result is achieved; a method.

Usage examples:

Technology seen as a means to bring about emancipation

noun

The exertion of a modifying or controlling influence on something.

Usage examples:

Endorphins in the body are responsible for the modulation of pain sensation

noun

A change in the style, loudness, etc. of something such as your voice in order to achieve an effect or express an emotion

Usage examples:

The minister has evidently practised the modulation of her voice., the actors sit on stools and pre…

noun

An official document issued by a government, certifying the holder's identity and citizenship and entitling them to travel under its protection to and from foreign countries.

Usage examples:

A british citizen with a valid passport does not need a visa to visit the us

noun

An official document provided by the government of a particular country which shows that the owner is a citizen of that country and allows that person to travel to foreign countries

noun

An official document containing personal information and a photograph, which allows you to travel to foreign countries and proves who you are

Usage examples:

A passport photo, many students opt for business studies simply because it sounds like a passport t…

noun

A way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading.

Usage examples:

The path continues alongside the river for half a mile

combining form

Denoting a practitioner of curative treatment.

Usage examples:

Homeopath

noun

The quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.

Usage examples:

Her voice rose steadily in pitch

verb

Set (one's voice or a piece of music) at a particular pitch.

Usage examples:

You've pitched the melody very high

verb

Cover, coat, or smear with pitch.

Usage examples:

He pitched the ship inside and outside

adjective

Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.

Usage examples:

Japan's pivotal role in the world economy

adjective

Important because other things depend on it

Usage examples:

She played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.

adjective

If something is pivotal, it is very important because other things depend on it

Usage examples:

A pivotal moment/point the speech marked a pivotal moment in the world bank's history., because imm…

noun

A long, thin piece of metal on a scale or dial which moves to indicate a figure or position.

Usage examples:

If the pointer moves right, the wind is from the right

noun

Any of various things used for pointing, esp. a long, thin stick

Usage examples:

The lecturer used a pointer to show what part or the diagram he was referring to., the booklet give…

noun

Something that is used for pointing at things, for example a long thin stick that you hold to direct attention to a place on a map or words on a board, etc.

Usage examples:

A laser pointer, which directs a small spot of light onto the screen is ideal when you are giving a…

noun

A condition that must be fulfilled before other things can happen or be done.

Usage examples:

A precondition for peace

verb

Condition (an action) to happen in a certain way.

Usage examples:

Enquiries are always preconditioned by cultural assumptions

adjective

Of first importance; main.

Usage examples:

A nurse's prime concern is the well-being of the patient

noun

The state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person's life.

Usage examples:

You're in the prime of life

verb

Make (something) ready for use or action.

Usage examples:

He grabbed a gun from a nearby wall and primed it

adjective

First in order of importance; main.

Usage examples:

The country's principal cities

noun

The most important or senior person in an organization or group.

Usage examples:

A design consultancy whose principal is based in san francisco

adjective

First in order of importance

Usage examples:

Iraq’s principal export is oil.

noun

A way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination.

Usage examples:

The scenic route from florence to siena

verb

Send or direct along a specified course.

Usage examples:

All lines of communication were routed through london

noun

A particular way or direction between places

Usage examples:

The most direct route is to take the expressway., bus routes, a supply route

adjective

Most noticeable or important.

Usage examples:

It succinctly covered all the salient points of the case

noun

A piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle.

Usage examples:

Had the wall run due north from this point on the upper terrace, the area enclosed would have been …

adjective

Most noticeable or important

Usage examples:

The salient fact about the case is that it involves an american.

adjective

Not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others.

Usage examples:

How did you guess i'd got a secret plan?

noun

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

Usage examples:

A state secret

noun

A piece of information that is not generally known or is not known by someone else and should not be told to others

Usage examples:

We don’t keep secrets from each other., don’t tell anyone – it’s a secret., what’s the secret of yo…

adjective

Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.

Usage examples:

A significant increase in sales

adjective

Important, large, or great, esp. in leading to a different result or to an important change

Usage examples:

This election reaffirms a significant shift of the center of power., marriage is a significant comm…

noun

A means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.

Usage examples:

There are no easy solutions to financial and marital problems

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances

noun

The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.

Usage examples:

Trumpet mutes with different timbres

noun

The character of a piece of music as determined by the key in which it is played or the relations between the notes of a scale or key.

Usage examples:

The sonata is noteworthy for its extensive variations of mood and tonality

noun

A particular musical scale or key

noun

A musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.

Usage examples:

They were speaking in hushed tones

verb

Give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a muscle).

Usage examples:

Push-ups help tone your abs

adjective

Absolutely necessary; essential.

Usage examples:

Secrecy is of vital importance

noun

The body's important internal organs.

Usage examples:

He felt the familiar knot contract in his vitals

adjective

Necessary or extremely important for the success or continued existence of something

Usage examples:

The existence of a strong opposition is vital to a healthy democracy., the kidneys play a vital rol…

noun

A method, style, or manner of doing something; an optional or alternative form of action.

Usage examples:

I hated their way of cooking potatoes

adverb

At or to a considerable distance or extent; far (used before an adverb or preposition for emphasis).

Usage examples:

His understanding of what constitutes good writing is way off target

suffix

Equivalent to -ways.