keynote

¹key·note

noun \ˈkē-ˌnōt\

Definition of KEYNOTE

1

: the first and harmonically fundamental tone of a scale

2

: the fundamental or central fact, idea, or mood <sadness is the keynote of this little collection — Books Abroad>

Examples of KEYNOTE

1. Humor is the keynote of the play.
2. <the need for a greater sense of self-reliance is the keynote of his self-help message>

First Known Use of KEYNOTE

1776

Related to KEYNOTE

Synonyms

bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, essence, gist, heart, kernel, crux, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum

Related Words

course, direction, drift, tenor; body, content, substance; hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Rhymes with KEYNOTE

afloat, airboat, banknote, bareboat, bluecoat, blue note, box coat, bumboat, capote, car coat, catboat, C-note, compote, connote, coyote, cutthroat, deep throat, demote, denote, devote, dovecote, dreamboat, eighth note, emote, endnote, fireboat, fistnote, flatboat, foldboat, footnote, frock coat, gemot, grace note, greatcoat, gunboat, half note, headnote, Hohhot, houseboat, housecoat, iceboat, johnboat, keelboat, lab coat, lifeboat, longboat, mash note, one-note, peacoat, pigboat, promote, Q-boat, raincoat, Rajkot, redcoat, remote, rowboat, sack coat, sailboat, sauceboat, scapegoat, seed coat, shape note, sheepcote, showboat, sore throat, speedboat, steamboat, stoneboat, straw vote, strep throat, Sukkoth, surcoat, surfboat, swan boat, tailcoat, topcoat, towboat, trench coat, tugboat, turncoat, U-boat, unquote, wainscot, whaleboat, whitethroat, whole note, woodnote, workboat

²keynote

transitive verb

Definition of KEYNOTE

1

: to set the keynote of

2

: to deliver the keynote address at

— key·not·er noun

First Known Use of KEYNOTE

1914