| Principales traductions |
| key n | (device that opens a lock) (d'une porte,...) | clé, clef nf |
| | I can't find the key to unlock the door. |
| | Je ne retrouve pas la clé (or: clef) qui ouvre cette porte. |
| key n | (software: code) (Informatique) | clé, clef nf |
| | | code nm |
| | The software has a key that you have to type in to be able to use it. |
| | Le logiciel a une clé qu'il faut entrer avant de pouvoir l'utiliser. |
| key n | (button on a computer keyboard) (sur un clavier) | touche nf |
| | After finishing a line, you need to hit the Enter key. |
| | À la fin de chaque ligne, il faut taper sur la touche Entrée. |
| key n | (music: D major, etc.) (Musique) | ton nm |
| | (Musique) | tonalité nf |
| | (Musique) | in the key of D major : en ré majeur |
| | The song was written in the key of D major. Transition is a movement from one key to another. |
| | La chanson était écrite en ré majeur. |
| key n | (legend on a map) (d'une carte) | légende nf |
| | What does this symbol mean? I can't find it in the key. |
| | Que veut dire ce symbole ? Je ne le trouve pas dans la légende. |
| key n | (on a piano, etc.) (sur un piano) | touche nf |
| | A piano has many white and black keys. |
| | Le piano a de nombreuses touches noires et blanches. |
key,
key to [sth] n | (solution) (d'un problème, d'un mystère) | clé, clef (de [qch]) nf |
| | | solution (à [qch]) nf |
| | The key to solving the puzzle is to eliminate the incorrect answers. |
| | La clé (or: clef) du mystère est de procéder par élimination. |
| | Pour trouver la solution, il faut procéder par élimination. |
| the key to [sth] n | (most important thing) (figuré) | la clé, la clef de [qch], pour faire [qch] nf |
| | | le secret de [qch], pour faire [qch] nm |
| | The key to getting into this college is to perform well at interview. |
| | ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. La clé pour réussir, c'est de ne jamais se décourager. |
| | Le secret pour être admis à cette université, c'est d'assurer à l'entretien. |
| key n | (on a mechanism, for winding) (d'un mécanisme) | clé, clef nf |
| | (vieilli) | remontoir nm |
| | I've lost the key for the grandfather clock. |
| | ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Nous remontons l'horloge de mon grand-père une fois par semaine à l'aide d'une clé (or: clef). |
| | ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. L'horloge se remonte à l'aide d'un remontoir. |
Formes composées
|
Allen key,
Allen wrench,
hex key n | (L-shaped wrench) | clé hexagonale, clé Allen nf |
| answer key n | (answers to test questions) | corrigé nm |
| | The student stole the answer key from the teacher's desk, and sold the answers. |
| | L'étudiant a volé le corrigé qui était sur le bureau du prof et a vendu les réponses. |
| | | réponses nfpl |
| | | grille de réponses nf |
| backspace key n | (on computer keyboard) | touche "retour arrière" nf |
| | Hitting the backspace key removes the most recently typed symbol. |
| computer key n | (touch control on a keyboard) (Informatique) | touche, touche du clavier nf |
| | J'ai appuyé sans faire exprès sur une touche, et depuis, mon ordinateur ne reconnaît plus aucun périphérique. |
| control key n | (Ctrl: touch control on a keyboard) | touche contrôle nf |
| | The control key is used to modify the actions of other keys. |
| | La touche contrôle est utilisée pour modifier l'action des autres touches. |
| door key n | (key to house, hotel room) | clé de porte, clef de porte nf |
| | (d'une porte spécifique) | clé de la porte, clef de la porte nf |
| | In modern hotels, the door key is a plastic card. |
| | Dans les hôtels modernes, les clés de porte ont été remplacées par des cartes magnétiques. |
| Enter key n | (Return: button on keyboard) (Informatique) | touche Entrée nf |
| | The enter key is used to take the cursor to the next line or to execute a command or operation. |
| feather key | (mechanics) | clavette parallèle fixée par vis nf |
| find the key to [sth] v expr | (to a puzzle, problem) | trouver la solution de [qch] loc v |
| | I know I could solve this puzzle if only I could find the key to it. |
| function key n | (button on computer keyboard) (clavier) | touche de fonction nf |
| | The function keys are always numbered F1, F2, F3, etc. |
| high key n | (light tones) (Photographie, technique, anglicisme) | high key nm |
| Note: hyphen used when term is an adj before a noun |
high key,
high-key n as adj | (light toned) (Photographie, technique, anglicisme) | high key loc adj |
| home key n | usually plural (touch-typing) (Dactylographie) | lettre de la ligne du milieu, lettre de la ligne centrale nf |
| | (Dactylographie) | touche de la ligne du milieu, touche de la ligne centrale nf |
| | On a QWERTY keyboard the home keys are a, s, d, and f, for the left hand,and j, k, l, and ;, for the right. |
| | Sur un clavier QWERTY, les lettres de la ligne centrale sont a, s, d, et f à gauche et j, k, l et ; à droite. |
| home key n | (keyboard) (Informatique) | touche Début nf |
| | Pressing the home key takes the cursor to the beginning of the line. |
| hot key n | (computing: shortcut to a command) (Informatique) | raccourci clavier nm |
| ignition key n | (key that starts an engine) | clé de contact, clef de contact nf |
| | He turned the ignition key in the lock and the engine started to run. |
| key card n | (access card) | carte d'accès, carte magnétique, clé magnétique nf |
| key case | (key holder) | étui à clés nm |
| | | porte-clés avec étui nm inv |
key chain,
keychain n | (fob for attaching keys) | porte-clés nm inv |
| | I got my dad a souvenir key chain from Paris. |
| | J'ai acheté comme souvenir pour mon père un porte-clés de Paris. |
| key cutter n | ([sb] who makes or copies keys) | serrurier nm |
| key date n | (day [sth] important happens) | date clé, date-clé nf |
| key element n | (crucial feature, part) | élément clé, élément fondamental nm |
| | An easy-to-use catalogue is a key element of a good library. |
| key feature n | (most important characteristic) | caractéristique essentielle nf |
| | A key feature of the new system will be an entirely comprehensive database, accessible to all. |
| key figure n | (important person) | figure emblématique nf |
| | | personnage incontournable nm |
| | Leonardo da Vinci was one of the key figures of the Renaissance. |
| | Léonard de Vinci était l'une des figures emblématiques de la Renaissance. |
key fob,
fob n | (key ring) | porte-clés, porte-clefs nm inv |
key fob,
fob n | (remote locking device) (de voiture,...) | télécommande nf |
| | (de voiture) | clé électronique nf |
| | (de garage : familier) | bip nm |
key frame,
keyframe n | (drawing in animation filmmaking) (Animation, Cinématographie) | image-clé nf |
| key grip n | (movie industry) | chef machiniste nmf |
| key holder n | (ring or fob to which keys are attached) | porte-clés, porte-clefs nm inv |
| | He gave me a key holder which I can attach to my belt so I don't lose it. |
| key holder n | ([sb] who has the key) | détenteur de la clé, détenteur de la clef nm |
| | The police need the contact details of a keyholder in case the burglar alarm goes off. |
| key information n | (essential or important knowledge) | information clé nf |
| | The time the crime was committed was key information for the investigators. |
| key issue n | (crucial subject) | problème clé, problème central nm |
| | | question clé, question centrale nf |
| Key lime n | (yellow lime: Citrus × aurantiifolia) (sorte de citron vert) | limettier, limettier mexicain nm |
| key lime pie n | (food: sweet pastry dish) | tarte au citron vert nf |
| key line n | (printing: explanatory line) | repère d'impression nm |
| keyline n | (graphic design: border) (graphisme) | bordure nm |
key man,
keyman n | (crucial person) | homme-clé, homme-clef nm |
| | | personne-clé, personne-clef nf |
| key man n | US, historical (telegraph operator) (Histoire, États-Unis : utilise le morse) | radiotélégraphiste nm |
key man,
keyman,
key-man adj | (insurance: on a crucial person) (assurance) | personne-clé, personne clé loc adj + prép |
| | (assurance) | collaborateurs adj inv |
| key money n | (advance money for rental property) (Finance) | pas-de-porte nm inv |
| key pattern n | (geometric border design) | grecque nf |
| | Ancient Greek pottery makes extensive use of the key pattern. |
| key performance indicator n | (business: measure of success) (Affaires) | indicateur clé de performance nm |
| key qualification n | (essential academic certification) | diplôme clé nm |
key ring,
keyring n | (metal loop for holding keys) | porte-clés, porte-clefs nm inv |
| | The keys on the guard's key ring jangled as he walked. |
key ring,
keyring n | (computing: file of encryption keys) (Informatique) | trousseau de clefs nm |
key-ring,
ring key n | (ancient key worn as a ring) (bague) | anneau nm |
| key risk indicator n | (business: measure of risk) | indicateur clé de risque nm |
| | Excess weight is a key risk indicator of many diseases. |
| key signature | (music) (Musique) | armature, armure nf |
| key skill n | often plural (important ability) | compétence clé, compétence essentielle nf |
| | The key skills needed for the job are knowledge of computer programming and good organization. |
| | Les compétences clés pour cet emploi sont les connaissances en programmation et un bon sens de l'organisation. |
| key strength n | (best feature or quality) | qualité principale nf |
| | One of the key strengths of a manager is the ability to bring the best out of everybody. |
| key tag n | (fob on a keyring) | étiquette pour clé nf |
key worker,
keyworker,
essential worker n | ([sb] providing vital goods or services) | travailleur essentiel, travailleuse essentielle nm, nf |
keypunch,
key punch,
card punch n | (hole-punching device) (informatique ancienne) | perforatrice à clavier nf |
keypunch,
key punch vi | (enter data using a keypunch) | perforer des cartes loc v |
keypunch [sth],
key punch [sth]⇒ vtr | (data: enter using a keypunch) | perforer des cartes loc v |
| keyword n | (search term) | mot-clé, mot-clef nm |
| | The index can be searched by subject or by keyword. |
| | On effectue une recherche dans l'index par sujet ou par mot-clé (or: mot-clef). |
| keyword n | (word: deciphers a code) | mot-clé, mot-clef nm |
| | The spy's mother was the only other person that knew the keyword to decipher the notebook. |
| key word n | (important term) | mot-clé, mot-clef nm |
| | The key word here is 'estimated'. |
| | Ici, "estimé" reste le mot-clé (or: mot-clef). |
| KPI n | initialism (key performance indicator) (Affaires) | indicateur clé de performance nm |
low-key,
lowkey adj | (light, colour: subtle, subdued) | discret, discrète adj |
| | | sobre adj |
| Note: A hyphen is used when the adjective precedes the noun |
| | The colour of this carpet is very low-key. |
| | La couleur de cette moquette est très discrète (or: sobre). |
low-key,
lowkey adj | figurative (not ostentatious) (familier) | tranquille, relax adj |
| | The party was just a low-key affair with a few friends. |
| | Ce n'était qu'une petite fête tranquille entre amis. |
lowkey,
low-key adv | informal (secretly, with embarrassment) (familier) | à moitié loc adv |
| | I lowkey want to buy a pound of candy and spend the day eating it in bed. |
major key,
major mode n | (music) (Musique) | mode majeur nm |
| | | en majeur loc adv |
| maple key n | (fruit of the maple tree) (fruit sec) | samare nf |
| master key n | (passkey, key that opens a number of locks) | passe nm |
| | I lost the key to my apartment and so had to ask the caretaker to open the door for me with his master key. |
| | | passe-partout nm inv |
| minor key n | (music: key one half-step down) (Musique) | mode mineur nm |
off key,
off-key adj | (out of tune) | faux, fausse adv |
| | Elena was off key and her voice sounded very strained. |
| | Elena chantait faux et sa voix paraissait éreintée. |
| off key adv | (out of tune) | faux adv |
| | Tu chantes faux comme une casserole. |
| be out of key v expr | (music: be off-pitch) (Musique) | être faux, être fausse vi + adj |
| out of key adv | (play, sing music: off-pitch) (Musique) | faux adv |
passkey,
pass key n | (key that opens many locks) | passe-partout nm |
| | | passe nm |
| | Bob used his passkey to open several doors in the office building. |
| piano key n | usually plural (part of keyboard) | touche de piano, touche du piano nf |
| | The musician pressed down one of the piano keys. |
pound key (US),
hash key (UK) n | (keyboard, phone: number sign #) (France, Suisse : téléphone) | dièse nm |
| | (Belg, Can) | carré nm |
| | Next, enter the amount, followed by the pound key. |
| | Puis, entrez le montant, suivi de dièse. |
print screen,
print screen key n | (computer function key) (touche) | impression d'écran nf |
| | Hit print screen to take a screenshot. |
| | Appuyez sur impression d'écran pour faire une capture d'écran. |
| shift key n | (computer keyboard key) (clavier) | majuscule, touche majuscule nf |
| | (abr) | touche Maj nf |
| | (anglicisme) | touche shift nf |
| | (anglicisme) | shift nm |
| skeleton key n | (master or multi-purpose key) | passe-partout nm inv |
| | The hotel maid had a skeleton key so she could let herself into any room she wanted. |
star,
star key n | (on keypad: key with asterisk) (astérisque) | étoile nf |
| | To speak to an operator, press star. |
| | Pour être mis en relation avec un conseiller, appuyez sur la touche étoile. |
| tab key | (indent key) | touche de tabulation, touche tabulation nf |
| under lock and key adv | (to or in prison) | sous les verrous loc adv |
| | This type of deviant behaviour will get you put under lock and key. |
| | | derrière les barreaux loc adv |
| under lock and key adj | (person: in prison) | sous les verrous loc adv |
| | He's under lock and key after he committed that robbery last year. |
| | | derrière les barreaux loc adv |
| under lock and key adj | (thing: locked away) | mettre, garder en lieu sûr loc v |
| | I want you to stop overspending so I put your credit card under lock and key. |