kea ['kē-ə] -n
- a large mostly dull green New Zealand parrot ( Nestor notabilis) that is normally insectivorous but sometimes destroys sheep by slashing the back to feed on the kidney fat
ke·bab [kə-'bäb also 'kā-,] -n
- cubes of meat (as lamb or beef) marinated and cooked with vegetables usu. on a skewer
keb·buck ['ke-bək] -n
- a whole wheel or ball of cheese
kedge ['kej] -vb
- to move (a ship) by means of a line attached to a small anchor dropped at the distance and in the direction desired
- to move a ship by kedging
- a small anchor used esp. in kedging
ked·ge·ree ['ke-jə-rē] -n
- an Indian dish of seasoned rice, beans, lentils, and sometimes smoked fish
- cooked or smoked fish, rice, hard-boiled eggs, and seasoning heated in cream
keek ['kēk] -vi
- peep, look
- peep, look
keel ['kēl] -vb
- cool
- a flat-bottomed barge used esp. on the Tyne to carry coal
- the chief structural member of a boat or ship that extends longitudinally along the center of its bottom and that often projects from the bottom
- this projection
- ship
- a projection suggesting a keel
- carina
- to fall in or as if in a faint usu. used with over
- to heel or lean precariously
- red ocher
keel·boat ['kēl-,bōt] -n
- a shallow covered keeled riverboat that is usu. rowed, poled, or towed and that is used for freight
- a keeled sailboat
keel·haul [-,hȯl] -vt
- to haul under the keel of a ship as punishment or torture
- to rebuke severely
keel·son ['kel-sən, 'kēl-] -n
- a longitudinal structure running above and fastened to the keel of a ship in order to stiffen and strengthen its framework
keen ['kēn] -adj, adv, n
- having a fine edge or point : sharp
- affecting one as if by cutting
- pungent to the sense
- showing a quick and ardent responsiveness : enthusiastic
- eager
- intense
- the keen delight in the chase -- F. W. Maitland
- intellectually alert : having or characteristic of a quick penetrating mind
- a keen awareness of the problem
- shrewdly astute
- sharply contested
- extremely sensitive in perception
- wonderful, excellent
- a lamentation for the dead uttered in a loud wailing voice or sometimes in a wordless cry
- to lament with a keen
- to make a sound suggestive of a keen
- to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
- to utter by keening
keep ['kēp] -vb
- : to take notice of by appropriate conduct : fulfill: as
- to be faithful to
- to act fittingly in relation to
- to conform to in habits or conduct
- to stay in accord with (a beat)
- : preserve, maintain: as
- to watch over and defend
- to take care of : tend
- support
- to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition usu. used with up
- to continue to maintain
- to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition
- to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition
- to have or maintain in an established position or relationship often used with on
- to lodge or feed for pay
- to maintain a record in
- to enter in a book
- to have customarily in stock for sale
- to restrain from departure or removal : detain
- keep children after school
- hold back, restrain
- kept him back with difficulty
- save, reserve
- kept some out for a friend
- to refrain from revealing
- to retain in one's possession or power
- to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing
- to have in control
- to confine oneself to
- to stay or continue in
- to stay or remain on or in usu. against opposition : hold
- conduct, manage
- live, lodge
- to maintain a course, direction, or progress
- to continue usu. without interruption
- to persist in a practice
- kept on smoking in spite of warnings
- : stay, remain: as
- to stay even usu. used with up
- to remain in good condition
- meat will keep in the freezer
- to remain secret
- to call for no immediate action
- the matter will keep until morning
- abstain, refrain
- to be in session
- school will keep through the winter -- W. M. Thayer
- to retain possession of a football esp. after faking a handoff
- custody, charge
- maintenance
- : one that keeps or protects: as
- fortress, castle
- the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle
- one whose job is to keep or tend
- prison, jail
- the means or provisions by which one is kept
- keeper
keepaway ['kēp-ə-,wā] -n
- a game in which two or more players try to keep an object (as a ball) from one or more other players
keep down -vt
- to keep in control
- to prevent from growing, advancing, or succeeding
keep·er ['kē-pər] -n
- : one that keeps: as
- protector
- gamekeeper
- warden
- custodian
- curator
- any of various devices for keeping something in position
- : one suitable for or worth keeping: as
- a fruit or vegetable that keeps well
- a fish large enough to be legally caught and kept
- one having genuine or lasting merit
- their new album is a keeper
- a domestic animal considered with respect to how easy it is to care for
- goalkeeper
- an offensive football play in which the quarterback runs with the ball
keeping -n
- : the act of one that keeps: as
- custody, maintenance
- observance
- a reserving or preserving for future use
- the means by which something is kept : support, provision
- the state of being kept or the condition in which something is kept
- the house is in good keeping
- conformity
- in keeping with good taste
- out of keeping with the decor
keeping room -n
- a common room (as in a colonial house) usu. used for multiple purposes
keep·sake ['kēp-,sāk] -n
- something kept or given to be kept as a memento
keep up -vt
- to persist or persevere in
- maintain, sustain
- to keep adequately informed or up-to-date
- keep up on international affairs
- to continue without interruption
- to maintain contact or relations with
kees·hond ['kās-,hȯnt] -n
- any of a Dutch breed of compact medium-sized dogs that have a dense heavy grayish coat and a foxy head
kef ['kēf, 'kef, 'kāf] -n
- a state of dreamy tranquillity
- a smoking material (as marijuana) that produces kef
keffiyeh [kə-'fē-ə] -n
(variant of kaffiyeh)
- an Arab headdress consisting of a square of cloth folded to form a triangle and held on by a cord
ke·fir [ke-'fir; 'kē-fər, 'ke-] -n
- a beverage of fermented cow's milk
keg ['keg, dial 'kag, 'kāg] -n
- a small cask or barrel having a capacity of 30 gallons or less
- the contents of a keg
Ke·gel exercises ['kā-gəl-, 'kē-] -n pl
- repetitive contractions by a woman of the pelvic muscles that control the flow in urination in order to strengthen these muscles esp. to control or prevent incontinence or to enhance sexual responsiveness during intercourse called also Kegels
keg·ger ['ke-gər] -n
- a party featuring one or more kegs of beer called also keg party
keg·ler ['ke-glər, 'kā-] -n
- bowler
keg·ling ['ke-gliŋ, 'kā-] -n
- bowling
kei·ret·su [kā-'ret-(,)sü, ke-] -n
- a powerful alliance of Japanese businesses often linked by cross-shareholding
keis·ter ['kēs-tər, 'kīs-] -n
- buttocks
kelim [kē-'lēm] -n
(variant of kilim)
- a pileless handwoven reversible rug or covering made in Turkey, Kurdistan, the Caucasus, Iran, and western Turkestan
kel·ly green ['ke-lē-] -n
- a strong yellowish green
ke·loid ['kē-,lȯid] -n, adj
- a thick scar resulting from excessive growth of fibrous tissue
kelp ['kelp] -n
- any of various large brown seaweeds (order Laminariales)
- a mass of large seaweeds
- the ashes of seaweed used esp. as a source of iodine
kelp bass -n
- a mottled sea bass ( Paralabrax clathratus) that occurs along the Pacific coast of the U.S. and is an important sport fish
kel·pie ['kel-pē] -n
- a water sprite of Scottish folklore that delights in or brings about the drowning of wayfarers
kelpie -n
- any of a breed of energetic working dogs developed in Australia from British sheepdogs
kel·vin ['kel-vən] -n
- the base unit of temperature in the International System of Units that is equal to 1/273.16 of the Kelvin scale temperature of the triple point of water
Kelvin -adj
- relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometric scale on which the unit of measurement equals the Celsius degree and according to which absolute zero is 0 K, the equivalent of 273.15C
kemp ['kemp] -n
- a coarse fiber esp. of wool that is usu. short, wavy, and white, has little affinity for dye, and is used in mixed wools
Kemp's ridley ['kemps-] -n
- a small gray sea turtle ( Lepidochelys kempii) with a wide rounded shell that occurs esp. in the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. Atlantic coast called also Kemp's ridley turtle
kempt ['kem(p)t] -adj
- neatly kept
ken ['ken] -vb
- see
- recognize
- know
- know
- the range of vision
- sight, view
- 'tis double death to drown in ken of shore -- Shak.
- the range of perception, understanding, or knowledge
- abstract words that are beyond the ken of young children -- Lois M. Rettie
ke·naf [kə-'naf] -n
- an African hibiscus ( Hibiscus cannabinus) widely cultivated for its fiber
- the fiber used esp. for making paper and cordage
Ken·dal green ['ken-dᵊl-] -n
- a green woolen cloth resembling homespun or tweed
ken·do ['ken-(,)dō] -n
- a Japanese sport of fencing usu. with bamboo swords
ken·nel ['ke-nᵊl] -n
- a shelter for a dog or cat
- an establishment for the breeding or boarding of dogs or cats
- a pack of dogs
kennel -vb
- to take shelter in or as if in a kennel
- to put or keep in or as if in a kennel
- a gutter in a street
ken·ning ['ke-niŋ] -n
- a perceptible but small amount
kenning -n
- a metaphorical compound word or phrase (as swan-roadfor ocean) used esp. in Old English and Old Norse poetry
ke·no ['kē-(,)nō] -n
- a game resembling bingo
ke·no·sis [kə-'nō-səs, kē-] -n, adj
- the relinquishment of divine attributes by Jesus Christ in becoming human
ken·speck·le ['ken-,spe-kəl] -adj
- conspicuous
ken·te cloth ['ken-,tā-] -n
- colorfully patterned cloth traditionally woven by hand in Ghana called also kente
kent·ledge ['kent-lij] -n
- pig iron or scrap metal used as ballast
Ken·tucky bluegrass [kən-'tə-kē-] -n
- an Old World pasture and meadow grass ( Poa pratensis) naturalized in America called also bluegrass
Kentucky coffee tree -n
- a tall No. American tree ( Gymnocladus dioica) of the legume family with bipinnate leaves and large woody brown pods whose seeds have been used as a substitute for coffee
Kentucky rifle -n
- a muzzle-loading long-barreled flintlock rifle developed in the 18th century in Pennsylvania and used extensively on the American frontier
Ke·ogh plan ['kē-(,)ō-] -n
- an individual retirement account for the self-employed
ke·pi ['kā-pē, 'ke-] -n
- a military cap with a round flat top usu. sloping toward the front and a visor
kept ['kēp] -vb
(variant of keep)
- : to take notice of by appropriate conduct : fulfill: as
- to be faithful to
- to act fittingly in relation to
- to conform to in habits or conduct
- to stay in accord with (a beat)
- : preserve, maintain: as
- to watch over and defend
- to take care of : tend
- support
- to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition usu. used with up
- to continue to maintain
- to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition
- to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition
- to have or maintain in an established position or relationship often used with on
- to lodge or feed for pay
- to maintain a record in
- to enter in a book
- to have customarily in stock for sale
- to restrain from departure or removal : detain
- keep children after school
- hold back, restrain
- kept him back with difficulty
- save, reserve
- kept some out for a friend
- to refrain from revealing
- to retain in one's possession or power
- to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing
- to have in control
- to confine oneself to
- to stay or continue in
- to stay or remain on or in usu. against opposition : hold
- conduct, manage
- live, lodge
- to maintain a course, direction, or progress
- to continue usu. without interruption
- to persist in a practice
- kept on smoking in spite of warnings
- : stay, remain: as
- to stay even usu. used with up
- to remain in good condition
- meat will keep in the freezer
- to remain secret
- to call for no immediate action
- the matter will keep until morning
- abstain, refrain
- to be in session
- school will keep through the winter -- W. M. Thayer
- to retain possession of a football esp. after faking a handoff
- custody, charge
- maintenance
- : one that keeps or protects: as
- fortress, castle
- the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle
- one whose job is to keep or tend
- prison, jail
- the means or provisions by which one is kept
- keeper
kerat- -comb form
- cornea
ker·a·tec·to·my [,ker-ə-'tek-tə-mē] -n
- surgical excision of part of the cornea
ker·a·tin ['ker-ə-tən] -n, adj
- any of various sulfur-containing fibrous proteins that form the chemical basis of horny epidermal tissues (as hair and nails)
ke·ra·ti·ni·za·tion [,ker-ə-tə-nə-'zā-shən, kə-,ra-tə-nə-] -n, vb
- conversion into keratin or keratinous tissue
ker·a·ti·tis [,ker-ə-'tī-təs] -n
- inflammation of the cornea of the eye
ker·a·to·con·junc·ti·vi·tis ['ker-ə-(,)tō-kən-,jəŋ(k)-tə-'vī-təs] -n
- combined inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva
ker·at·o·mil·eu·sis [,ker-ə-tō-mil-'(y)ü-səs] -n
- keratoplasty in which a piece of the cornea is removed, frozen, shaped to correct refractive error, and reinserted
ker·a·to·plas·ty ['ker-ə-tō-,plas-tē] -n
- plastic surgery on the cornea
- corneal grafting
ker·a·to·sis [,ker-ə-'tō-səs] -n, adj
- an area of skin marked by overgrowth of horny tissue
kerb ['kərb] -n
- curb
ker·chief ['kər-chəf, -,chēf] -n, adj
- a square of cloth used as a head covering or worn as a scarf around the neck
- handkerchief
Ke·res ['kā-,rās] -n
- keresan
- the group of dialects spoken by the Keresans
Ker·e·san ['ker-ə-sən] -n
- a family of American Indian languages of which the Keres dialects comprise the only member
- a member of any of the seven Keres-speaking Pueblo Indian communities of central New Mexico
kerf ['kərf] -n
- a slit or notch made by a saw or cutting torch
- the width of cut made by a saw or cutting torch
ker·floo·ey [kər-'flü-ē] -adj
- awry, kaput
ker·fuf·fle [kər-'fə-fəl] -n
- disturbance, fuss
ker·mes ['kər-(,)mēz] -n
- the dried bodies of the females of various scale insects (genus Kermes) that are found on a Mediterranean oak ( Quercus coccifera) and constitute a red dyestuff
- the dye
ker·mis ['kər-məs] -n
- an outdoor festival of the Low Countries
- a fair held usu. for charitable purposes
kern ['kərn, 'kern] -n
- a light-armed foot soldier of medieval Ireland or Scotland
- yokel
- a part of a typeset letter that projects beyond its side bearings
ker·nel ['kər-nᵊl] -n
- a fruit seed
- the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut
- a whole seed of a cereal
- a central or essential part : germ
- like many stereotypes...this one too contains some kernel s of truth -- S. M. Lyman
- a subset of the elements of one set (as a group) that a function (as a homomorphism) maps onto an identity element of another set
kern·ite ['kər-,nīt] -n
- a colorless to white mineral that consists of a hydrous borate of sodium
ker·o·gen ['ker-ə-jən, 'ke-rə-] -n
- bituminous material occurring in shale and yielding oil when heated
ker·o·sene ['ker-ə-,sēn, ,ker-ə-'] -n
- a flammable hydrocarbon oil usu. obtained by distillation of petroleum and used for a fuel and as a solvent and thinner
ker·ria ['ker-ē-ə, 'ke-rē-] -n
- a shrub ( Kerria japonica) of the rose family that is native to China and Japan and has solitary yellow and often double flowers
ker·ry ['ker-ē, 'ke-rē] -n
- any of an Irish breed of small hardy black dairy cattle
Kerry blue terrier -n
- any of an Irish breed of medium-sized terriers with a long squarish head, deep chest, and silky bluish coat
ker·sey ['kər-zē] -n
- a coarse ribbed woolen cloth for hose and work clothes
- a heavy wool or wool and cotton fabric used esp. for uniforms and coats
- a garment of kersey
ker·sey·mere ['kər-zē-,mir] -n
- a fine woolen fabric with a close nap made in fancy twill weaves
ke·ryg·ma [kə-'rig-mə] -n, adj
- the apostolic proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ
kes·trel ['kes-trəl] -n
- : any of various small chiefly Old World falcons (genus Falco) that usu. hover in the air while searching for prey: as
- a common Eurasian falcon ( F. tinnunculus)
- an American falcon ( F. sparverius) having a reddish-brown back and tail and bluish-gray wings
ket- -comb form
- ketone
ke·ta·mine ['kē-tə-,mēn] -n
- a general anesthetic administered intravenously and intramuscularly in the form of its hydrochloride C 13H 16ClNOHCl
ketch ['kech] -n
- a fore-and-aft rigged vessel similar to a yawl but with a larger mizzen sail and with the mizzenmast stepped farther forward
ketch·up ['ke-chəp, 'ka-] -n
- a seasoned pureed condiment usu. made from tomatoes
ke·tene ['kē-,tēn] -n
- a colorless poisonous gas C 2H 2O of penetrating odor used esp. as an acetylating agent
- any of various derivatives of this compound
ke·to ['kē-(,)tō] -adj
- of or relating to a ketone
- containing a ketone group
ke·to·co·na·zole [,kē-tō-'kō-nə-,zōl] -n
- a synthetic broad-spectrum antifungal agent C 26H 28Cl 2N 4O 4used to treat chronic internal and cutaneous infections
ke·to·gen·e·sis [,kē-tō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- the production of ketone bodies (as in diabetes)
ke·to·glu·tar·ic acid [-glü-'ta-rik-] -n
- either of two crystalline keto derivatives C 5H 6O 5of glutaric acid
- the alpha keto isomer formed in various metabolic processes (as the Krebs cycle)
ke·tone ['kē-,tōn] -n, adj
- any of a class of organic compounds (as acetone) that are characterized by a carbonyl group attached to two carbon atoms
ketone body -n
- any of the three compounds acetoacetic acid, acetone, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid which are normal intermediates in lipid metabolism and accumulate in the blood and urine in abnormal amounts in conditions of impaired metabolism (as diabetes mellitus)
ke·tose ['kē-,tōs, -,tōz] -n
- a sugar (as fructose) containing in its acyclic form one ketone group per molecule
ke·to·sis [kē-'tō-səs] -n, adj
- an abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the body
ke·to·ste·roid [,kē-tō-'stir-,ȯid also -'ster-] -n
- a steroid (as cortisone or estrone) containing a ketone group
ket·tle ['ke-tᵊl] -n
- a metallic vessel usu. used for boiling liquids
- teakettle
- kettledrum
- pothole
- a steep-sided hollow without surface drainage esp. in a deposit of glacial drift
ket·tle·drum [-,drəm] -n
- a percussion instrument that consists of a hollow brass, copper, or fiberglass hemisphere with a calfskin or plastic head whose tension can be changed to vary the pitch
kettle of fish
- a bad state of affairs : mess
- something to be considered or reckoned with : matter
- books and discs...were two very different kettles of fish -- Roland Gelatt
keV -abbr
- kilo-electron-volt
Kew·pie ['kyü-pē] -trademark
- used for a small chubby doll with a topknot of hair
key ['kē] -n, adj
- a usu. metal instrument by which the bolt of a lock is turned
- any of various devices having the form or function of such a key
- a means of gaining or preventing entrance, possession, or control
- an instrumental or deciding factor
- something that gives an explanation or identification or provides a solution
- a list of words or phrases giving an explanation of symbols or abbreviations
- an aid to interpretation or identification : clue
- an arrangement of the salient characters of a group of plants or animals or of taxa designed to facilitate identification
- a map legend
- cotter pin
- cotter
- a keystone in an arch
- a small piece of wood or metal used as a wedge or for preventing motion between parts
- one of the levers of a keyboard musical instrument that actuates the mechanism and produces the tones
- a lever that controls a vent in the side of a woodwind instrument or a valve in a brass instrument
- a part to be depressed by a finger that serves as one unit of a keyboard
- samara
- a system of tones and harmonies generated from a hierarchical scale of seven tones based on a tonic
- characteristic style or tone
- the tone or pitch of a voice
- the predominant tone of a photograph with respect to its lightness or darkness
- a decoration or charm resembling a key
- a small switch for opening or closing an electric circuit
- the set of instructions governing the encipherment and decipherment of messages
- a free-throw area in basketball
- : to lock with or as if with a key : fasten: as
- to secure (as a pulley on a shaft) by a key
- to finish off (an arch) by inserting a keystone
- to regulate the musical pitch of
- to bring into harmony or conformity : make appropriate : attune
- remarks key ed to a situation
- to identify (a biological specimen) by a key
- to provide with identifying or explanatory cross-references
- instructions key ed to accompanying drawings -- John Gartner
- to make nervous, tense, or excited usu. used with up
- was key ed up over her impending operation
- keyboard often used with in
- to be essential to : play the most important part in
- defense key ed the victory
- to use a key
- to observe the position or movement of an opposing player in football in order to anticipate the play usu. used with on
- keyboard
- important, fundamental
- a low island or reef
- any of the coral islets off the southern coast of Florida
- a kilogram esp. of marijuana or heroin
key·board ['kē-,bȯrd] -n
- a bank of keys on a musical instrument (as a piano) that usu. consists of seven white and five raised black keys to the octave
- an assemblage of systematically arranged keys by which a machine or device is operated
- a board on which keys for locks are hung
- a musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboard
keyboard -vt, n
- to capture or set (as data or text) by means of a keyboard
- to operate a machine (as for typesetting) by means of a keyboard
key·board·ist ['kē-,bȯr-dist] -n
- a person who plays a keyboard musical instrument
key·but·ton ['kē-,bə-tᵊn] -n
- key
key club -n
- an informal private club serving liquor and providing entertainment
key deer -n
- a very small rare white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium) native to the Florida Keys
key grip [,kē-] -n
- the technician in charge of moving and setting up camera tracks and scenery in a motion-picture or television production
key·hole ['kē-,hōl] -n
- a hole for receiving a key
- key
keyhole -adj
- revealingly intimate
- intent on revealing intimate details
keyhole saw -n
- a narrow pointed fine-toothed handsaw used esp. for cutting curves of short radius
key light -n
- the main light illuminating a photographic subject
key lime -n
- a small aromatic lime
key lime pie -n
- a usu. meringue-topped lime-custard pie traditionally made from key limes
Keynes·ian·ism ['kān-zē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj
- the economic theories and programs ascribed to John M. Keynes and his followers
- the advocacy of monetary and fiscal programs by government to increase employment and spending
key·note ['kē-,nōt] -n
- the first and harmonically fundamental tone of a scale
- the fundamental or central fact, idea, or mood
- sadness is the keynote of this little collection -- Books Abroad
keynote -vt, n
- to set the keynote of
- to deliver the keynote address at
keynote address -n
- an address designed to present the issues of primary interest to an assembly (as a political convention) and often to arouse unity and enthusiasm called also keynote speech
keynote speaker -n
- one who delivers a keynote address
key·pad ['kē-,pad] -n
- a small often handheld keyboard
key·punch ['kē-,pənch] -n
- a machine with a keyboard used to cut holes or notches in punch cards
keypunch -vt, n
- to enter (data) on punch cards with a keypunch
key signature -n
- the sharps or flats placed after a clef in music to indicate the key
key·stone ['kē-,stōn] -n
- the wedge-shaped piece at the crown of an arch that locks the other pieces in place
- something on which associated things depend for support
- determination, a keystone of the puritan ethic -- L. S. Lewis
- a species of plant or animal that produces a major impact (as by predation) on its ecosystem and is considered essential to maintaining optimum ecosystem function or structure
key·stroke [-,strōk] -n
- the act or an instance of depressing a key on a keyboard
keystroke -vt
- keyboard
key·way [-,wā] -n
- a groove or channel for a key
- the aperture for the key in a lock having a flat metal key
key word [-,wərd] -n
- : a word that is a key: as
- a word exemplifying the meaning or value of a letter or symbol
- a significant word from a title or document used esp. as an index to content