skeleton key
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skeleton key
noun skeleton keys
- A very simple design of key that usually has a cylindrical shaft (sometimes called a "shank") and a single, minimal flat, rectangular tooth or "bit".
- A key that has parts filed away so that it will open a range of locks.
- A master key.
- A key (A crucial step or requirement) or (An idea, theory or observation that explains, justifies or renders (something) comprehensible). The skeleton key to this plan is the marketing, which will make the plan make sense when you see it.
Translations
Every language
noun key that opens a range of locks
| Español | llave maestra |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 萬能鑰匙 /万能钥匙 wànnéng yàoshi |
| Português | chave-mestra |
| Français | passe-partout |
| Italiano | passe-partout |
| Ελληνικά | πασπαρτού paspartoú |
| Русский | ключ от всех двере́й ključ ot vsex dveréj |
| Tiếng Việt | chìa khoá vạn năng |
Talk about this word "skeleton key." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/skeleton%20key. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. skeleton key. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/skeleton%20key "skeleton key." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/skeleton%20key.
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@misc{skeleton_key_2026,
title = {skeleton key},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/skeleton%20key},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
