Englishfor English speakers
hold
Verb
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When you hold something, you put it in your hand and keep it there.
He held the pen tightly as he wrote the letter.
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When you hold something, you keep it in one place and do not let it move away.
The police hold people who do crimes in prison.
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If you hold someone accountable/responsible/liable, you put the responsibility for something on them.
It's not clear if parents should be held responsible for the problems their children cause.
We are trying to finally get tobacco companies held responsible for killing people.
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/ If something holds true/good, it is or continues to be true.
The drug extends life for mice. If this holds true in humans as well, it will be a great advance.
He might be able to do it, but I don't think that holds for most men.
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If you hold somebody prisoner/hostage/captive, you do not allow them to go free.
Police in Luxembourg say a gunman holding 29 children hostage is demanding a mini-bus to take him to the airport.
key
Noun
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A key is a small instrument, usually metal used to open locks.
I put my key in the lock and turned it.
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A key is a button used for typing.
Type your name and hit the ENTER key.
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A key is the part of a keyboard instrument you press with your fingers to play a sound.
The piano has a pattern of black and white keys.
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The key in music is the tonal centre of a piece of music.
Mozart's Symphony No.40 is written in the key of G minor.
key
Adjective
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Something that is key, is an important or a main thing.
Accuracy is a key part of playing music.
key
Verb
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To key is to lock something with key, or like using a key.
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To key is to put locks on a building.
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The locksmith was called in to key the building for better security.
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To key is to enter information into a computer.
He keyed in all the data from the survey.