KEYSTONE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does keystone mean? 

• KEYSTONE (noun)
  The noun KEYSTONE has 2 senses:

1. a central cohesive source of support and stability

2. the central building block at the top of an arch or vault

  Familiarity information: KEYSTONE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KEYSTONE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A central cohesive source of support and stability

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

anchor; backbone; keystone; linchpin; lynchpin; mainstay

Context example:

he is the linchpin of this firm

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

support (something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The central building block at the top of an arch or vault

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

headstone; key; keystone

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

building block (a block of material used in construction work)

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

coign; coigne; quoin (the keystone of an arch)

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

arch ((architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it)

 Context examples 

It seems that the microbial communities within the body could be the keystone to understanding this and a number of different immune diseases.

(Infant gut microbes linked to allergy, asthma risk, NIH)

The scientists are also testing whether other at-risk ecosystems — such as seagrass meadows and coral reefs — may be similarly protected by mutualistic relationships between keystone species.

(Biodiversity in salt marshes builds climate resilience, NSF)

To him, Judge Scott was the keystone in the arch of injustice, and upon Judge Scott he emptied the vials of his wrath and hurled the threats of his revenge yet to come.

(White Fang, by Jack London)