Keynote
['kiːnəʊt] or ['kinot]
Definition
(noun.) a fundamental or central idea.
(noun.) the principal theme in a speech or literary work.
(verb.) set the keynote of; 'Comfort keynotes this designer's Fall collection'.
(verb.) give the keynote address to (an audience).
Inputed by Angie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The tonic or first tone of the scale in which a piece or passage is written; the fundamental tone of the chord, to which all the modulations of the piece are referred; -- called also key tone.
(n.) The fundamental fact or idea; that which gives the key; as, the keynote of a policy or a sermon.
Editor: Lucia
Examples
- And that, unhappily, sounded the keynote of the Conference, whose sole business should have been with the future of mankind. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- It is the keynote of private enterprise to mind one's own business, secure the utmost profit, and disregard any other consequences. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
Edited by Alexander