SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
keystone
noun
The wedge at the top of an arch that holds its other pieces in position.
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Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Read this word in Dave's Corner
The Bell That Rang at Low Tide · paragraph 5The wedge at the top of an arch that holds its other pieces in position.
No close substitute is listed for this sense. The expressions below help explain the idea.
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Return to topThe central element on which the success or stability of something depends.
Closest synonyms
Usage distinction
Return to topReliable translation was the keystone of their correspondence.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See keystone in use
The mason trimmed the keystone until the two sides of the arch held firm.
The arch lacked its final keystone, so the builders kept the temporary supports in place.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license