What does "keyhole" mean?
The hole in a lock where the key is inserted and turns.
Keyhole
/ˈkiˌhoʊl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The hole in a lock where the key is inserted and turns.
- Grammar: keyhole is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: air hole, aperture, armhole, blowhole.
- Useful contrasts: blockage, circular, closure.
- Usage evidence: Having forgotten his key, he was able to open the door by inserting a wire in the keyhole.
How to use "keyhole"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "keyhole" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "keyhole" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "keyhole" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "keyhole" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "keyhole" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "air hole" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "keyhole", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The hole in a lock where the key is inserted and turns.
- 2 the hole where a key is inserted wordnet
- 3 Any small opening resembling the hole for a key in shape or function; especially, one that gives a vista of, or access to, a space beyond.
- 4 Any small opening resembling the hole for a key in shape or function; especially, one that gives a vista of, or access to, a space beyond.; A small incision through which surgical instruments can reach into an anatomic space beyond.
- 5 A circle cut out of a garment as a decorative effect, typically at the front or back neckline of a dress.
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A hole or excavation in beams intended to be joined together, to receive the key that fastens them.
- 7 A mortise for a key or cotter.
- 8 A transient column of vapor or plasma formed when using high energy beams, such as lasers, for welding or cutting.
"laser keyhole welding"
- 9 A welding method in which a hole forms in the surface immediately ahead of the puddle in the direction of welding. The hole is filled as the weld progresses.
- 10 The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line; key.
- 11 A gravitational keyhole.
Verb
- 1 To strike a target after wobbling in flight so that the long axis of the bullet does not follow the line of flight, typically due to insufficient spin resulting from the rifling in the barrel.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Having forgotten his key, he was able to open the door by inserting a wire in the keyhole."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "keyhole"?
Common synonyms include: air hole, aperture, armhole, blowhole, bullet-hole, bunghole.
How do you use "keyhole" in a sentence?
Having forgotten his key, he was able to open the door by inserting a wire in the keyhole.
How do you pronounce "keyhole"?
Pronounced /ˈkiˌhoʊl/.
Etymology
From key + hole.