Synonyms of the word

keystone

• n. (architecture) The top stone of an arch.
• n. Something on which other things depend for support.
• n. A native or resident of the American state of Pennsylvania.
• v. (transitive) To distort (an image) by projecting it onto a surface at an angle, which for example causes…

anchor

• n. (nautical) A tool used to moor a vessel to the bottom of a sea or river to resist movement.
• n. (nautical) An iron device so shaped as to grip the bottom and hold a vessel at her berth by the chain…
• n. (nautical) The combined anchoring gear (anchor, rode, bill/peak and fittings such as bitts, cat, and windlass…
• n. (heraldry) Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldic charge.
• n. Any instrument serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, such as an arrangement of timber to hold…
• n. (Internet) A marked point in a document that can be the target of a hyperlink.
• n. (television) An anchorman or anchorwoman.
• n. (athletics) The final runner in a relay race.
• n. (archery) A point that is touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to…
• n. (economics) A superstore or other facility that serves as a focus to bring customers into an area.
• n. (figuratively) That which gives stability or security.
• n. (architecture) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
• n. (architecture) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; part of the ornaments of certain…
• n. One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges.
• n. One of the calcareous spinules of certain holothurians, as in species of Synapta.
• v. To hold an object, especially a ship or a boat to a fixed point.
• v. To cast anchor; to come to anchor.
• v. To stop; to fix or rest.
• v. To provide emotional stability for a person in distress.
• v. To perform as an anchorman or anchorwoman.
• v. To be stuck; to be unable to move away from a position.

backbone

• n. The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down…
• n. Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.
• n. Courage, fortitude, or strength.

headstone

• n. A gravestone, a grave marker: a monument traditionally made of stone placed at the head of a grave.

key

• n. An object designed to open and close a lock.
• n. An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain…
• n. A crucial step or requirement.
• n. A guide explaining the symbols or terminology of a map or chart; a legend.
• n. A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.
• n. (computing) One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly…
• n. (music) One of a number of rectangular moving parts on a piano or musical keyboard, each causing a particular…
• n. (music) One of various levers on a musical instrument used to select notes, such as a lever opening a…
• n. (music) A hierarchical scale of musical notes on which a composition is based.
• n. (figuratively) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
• n. (botany) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple;…
• n. (historical) A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.
• n. (cryptography) A piece of information (e.g. a passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
• n. (Internet) A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
• n. (databases) In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).
• n. (computing) A value that uniquely identifies an entry in an associative array.
• n. (basketball) The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line, the free-throw…
• n. (biology) A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the…
• n. (architecture) A piece of wood used as a wedge.
• n. (architecture) The last board of a floor when laid down.
• n. (masonry) A keystone.
• n. That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.
• n. (rail transport) A wooden support for a rail on the bullhead rail system.
• n. (heraldry) The object used to open or close a lock, often used as a heraldic charge.
• n. The degree of roughness, or retention ability of a surface to have applied a liquid such as paint, or…
• adj. Indispensable, supremely important.
• adj. Important, salient.
• v. To fit (a lock) with a key.
• v. To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
• v. To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
• v. (telegraphy and radio telegraphy) To depress (a telegraph key).
• v. (radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).
• v. (computing) (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.
• v. (colloquial) To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.
• v. To link (as one might do with a key or legend).
• v. (intransitive, biology, chiefly taxonomy) To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.
• v. To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.
• n. One of a string of small islands.
• n. Alternative form of quay.
• n. (slang) Clipping of kilogram. (though this is more commonly shortened to kay).

linchpin

• n. A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle, so as to secure a wheel.
• n. (figuratively) A central cohesive source of stability and security; a person or thing that is critical…

lynchpin

• n. a pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle, so as to secure a wheel.
• n. (figuratively) a central cohesive source of stability and security; a person or thing that is critical…

mainstay

• n. A chief support.
• n. Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution.
• n. (nautical) A stabilising rope from the top of the mainmast to the bottom of the foremast.

support

• n. Something which supports. Often used attributively, as a complement or supplement to.
• n. Financial or other help.
• n. Answers to questions and resolution of problems regarding something sold.
• n. (mathematics) in relation to a function, the set of points where the function is not zero, or the closure…
• n. (fuzzy set theory) A set whose elements are at least partially included in a given fuzzy set (i.e., whose…
• n. Evidence.
• n. (computing) Compatibility and functionality for a given product or feature.
• n. (gymnastics) Clipping of support position.
• v. (transitive) To keep from falling.
• v. (transitive) To answer questions and resolve problems regarding something sold.
• v. (transitive) To back a cause, party, etc., mentally or with concrete aid.
• v. (transitive) To help, particularly financially.
• v. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to sustain.
• v. (transitive) To serve, as in a customer-oriented mindset; to give support to.
• v. (transitive) To be designed (said of machinery, electronics, or computers, or their parts, accessories,…
• v. (transitive) To be accountable for, or involved with, but not responsible for.
• v. (archaic) To endure without being overcome; bear; undergo; to tolerate.
• v. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain.