Meaning

4 senses
  1. 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".

  2. A key that has parts filed away so that it will open a range of locks.

    ключ от всех двере́йključ ot vsex dveréj

    a passkey with much of the bit filed away so that it can open different locks

  3. A master key.

  4. (figuratively)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.

Examples

2 sentences
  1. Do you have the skeleton key?

    deHast du den Dietrich? — Waldelfe

  2. Tom has a skeleton key.

    ruУ Тома есть отмычка. — Selena777

    deTom hat einen Dietrich. — Esperantostern

Translations

5 languages
Русский
By meaning 1
key that opens a range of locks:

Forms

plural: skeleton keys
Singularskeleton key
Pluralskeleton keys

regular

Word family

1 related words
Relatedpasskey

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
skeleton key — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto