What does "clef" mean?

A symbol found on a musical staff that indicates the pitches represented by the lines and the spaces on the staff

What is a synonym for "clef"?

Common synonyms include: clef sign, crux, key, linchpin, notation symbol, symbol.

/klɛf/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A symbol found on a musical staff that indicates the pitches represented by the lines and the spaces on the staff
2
a musical notation written on a staff indicating the pitch of the notes following it wordnet

"An "8" was placed below the clef sign."

Borrowed from Middle French clef, from Latin clāvis (“a key”). Doublet of clave and clavis.