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Webster 1913 Edition


Keynote

Key′noteˊ

,
Noun.
1.
(Mus.)
The tonic or first tone of the scale in which a piece or passage is written; the fundamental tone of the chord, to which all the modulations of the piece are referred; – called also
key tone
.
2.
The fundamental fact or idea; that which gives the key;
as, the
keynote
of a policy or a sermon
.

Definition 2024


keynote

keynote

English

Noun

keynote (plural keynotes)

  1. (music) The note on which a musical key is based; the tonic.
  2. The main theme of a speech, a written work, or a conference.
  3. A speech that sets the main theme of a conference or other gathering; a keynote speech or keynote address.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

keynote (third-person singular simple present keynotes, present participle keynoting, simple past and past participle keynoted)

  1. (transitive) To deliver a speech that sets the main theme of a conference or other gathering.

See also