KEYNOTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does keynote mean? 

• KEYNOTE (noun)
  The noun KEYNOTE has 3 senses:

1. the principal theme in a speech or literary work

2. a fundamental or central idea

3. (music) the first note of a diatonic scale

  Familiarity information: KEYNOTE used as a noun is uncommon.

• KEYNOTE (verb)
  The verb KEYNOTE has 2 senses:

1. set the keynote of

2. give the keynote address to (an audience)

  Familiarity information: KEYNOTE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KEYNOTE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The principal theme in a speech or literary work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("keynote" is a kind of...):

subject; theme; topic (the subject matter of a conversation or discussion)

Holonyms ("keynote" is a part of...):

keynote address; keynote speech (a speech setting forth the keynote)

Derivation:

keynote (give the keynote address to (an audience))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A fundamental or central idea

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("keynote" is a kind of...):

idea; thought (the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about)

Derivation:

keynote (set the keynote of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(music) the first note of a diatonic scale

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

keynote; tonic

Hypernyms ("keynote" is a kind of...):

musical note; note; tone (a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "keynote"):

C ((music) the keynote of the scale of C major)

• KEYNOTE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Set the keynote of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Comfort keynotes this designer's Fall collection

Hypernyms (to "keynote" is one way to...):

set (put into a certain state; cause to be in a certain state)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

keynote (a fundamental or central idea)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give the keynote address to (an audience)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "keynote" is one way to...):

address; speak (give a speech to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

keynote (the principal theme in a speech or literary work)

 Context examples 

“Great! That’s the keynote. Insolence! He could not have used a better word.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)