English → French
key /BrE kiː 
, AmE ki /
A
noun
1 (locking device) clé f, clef f
a front-door/car key une clé de maison/voiture
a set or keys un jeu de clés
to leave the key in the door laisser la clé sur la porte
under lock and key sous clé
2 (winding device) (general) remontoir m (for de); (for clock) clé f, remontoir m
3 Technology clé f
4 (control) (on typewriter, computer, piano, phone) touche f; (on oboe, flute) clé f
5 (vital clue) (to happiness, success etc) clé f, secret m (to de)
his diary holds the key to the mystery son journal renferme la clé du mystère
exercise is the key to health l'exercice est le secret de la santé
the key to being a good teacher is to listen le secret pour devenir un bon enseignant est d'écouter
6 (explanatory list) (on map) légende f; (to abbreviations, symbols) liste f; (for code, cryptogram) clé f
‘pronunciation key’ ‘liste phonétique’, ‘tableau m
7 (answers) (to test, riddle) solutions fpl; School corrigé m
8 Music ton m, tonalité f
what key is the sonata in? dans quel ton est la sonate?
change of key , changement m
a major key un ton majeur
in a major/minor key en majeur/mineur
to sing/play in key chanter/jouer juste
to sing/ play off key chanter/jouer faux
B
adjective
[industry, job, element, document, figure, role] clé inv, (after n); [difference, point] capital; [problem] essentiel/essentielle
C
transitive verb
1 (type) saisir [data, information]
2 (adapt) adapter [remarks, speech] (to à)
Phrasal verb
■ key in:
key [sth] in,
key in [sth]
saisir [data]