keystone

key·stone

 (kē′stōn′)

n.

1. Architecture A wedge-shaped stone at the top of an arch, often larger or more ornamented than the other voussoirs. Also called headstone.

2. The central supporting element of a whole.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

keystone

(ˈkiːˌstəʊn)

n

1. (Building) Also called: headstone or quoin the central stone at the top of an arch or the top stone of a dome or vault

2. something that is necessary to connect or support a number of other related things

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

key•stone

(ˈkiˌstoʊn)

n.

1. the wedge-shaped piece at the summit of an arch, regarded as holding the other pieces in place.

2. something on which associated things depend; foundation.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	keystone - a central cohesive source of support and stability; "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm" backbone, linchpin, lynchpin, mainstay, anchor support - something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest; "the policy found little public support"; "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans"
	2.	keystone - the central building block at the top of an arch or vault headstone, key arch - (architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it building block - a block of material used in construction work coign, coigne, quoin - the keystone of an arch

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

keystone

noun basis, principle, core, crux, ground, source, spring, root, motive, cornerstone, lynchpin, mainspring, fundament, quoin the keystone of the government's economic policy

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

clé de voûte

chiave di volta

замок

keystone

[ˈkiːstəʊn] N (Archit) → dovela f (fig) → piedra f angular

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

keystone

[ˈkiːstəʊn] n

[arch] → clé f de voûte

[policy, system, process] → clé f de voûte

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

keystone

[ˈkiːˌstəʊn] n → chiave f di volta

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995