<B>keyphone, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) a push-button telephone. <BR> <I>Ex. Looking exactly like a conventional instrument, except for its 10-button keypad in place of the rotary dial, the keyphone is being sold to the public as "the phone with the modern touch" (New Scientist).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="keypunch">
<B>key punch,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a machine having a keyboard similar to a typewriter, used to code information by punching patterns of holes in cards or tapes. </DL>
<A NAME="keypunch">
<B>keypunch, </B>transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to punch holes in (a punch card) using a key punch. <DD><B> 2. </B>to record (information) by using a key punch. noun <B>keypuncher.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="keyring">
<B>key ring,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a ring on which keys are kept together. </DL>
<A NAME="keys">
<B>Keys, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> the body of 24 representatives forming the lower house of the legislature of the Isle of Man. </DL>
<A NAME="keysignature">
<B>key signature,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Music.) one or more sharps or flats after the clef at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key. </DL>
<A NAME="keystone">
<B>keystone, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the middle stone at the top of an arch, holding the other stones or pieces in place. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) the part on which other related parts depend; essential principle. <BR> <I>Ex. The tenet of predestination was the keystone of his religion (Macaulay).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="keystonespecies">
<B>keystone species,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a plant or animal species necessary to the survival of an ecosystem. <BR> <I>Ex. So interdependent are the creatures in an ecosystem that even the temporary extinction of a single "keystone" species can create powerful ripples (Richard Maybe).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="keystonestate">
<B>Keystone State,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a nickname for Pennsylvania. </DL>
<A NAME="keystroke">
<B>keystroke, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the stroke of a key on a typewriter or other keyboard. </DL>
<A NAME="keytone">
<B>key tone,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a sounded keynote </DL>
<A NAME="keyway">
<B>keyway, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a groove or slot in a shaft in which a pin, bolt, or wedge fits. <DD><B> 2. </B>a slit in a lock for a flat key. <DD><B> 3. </B>a keyhole for a peg or key. </DL>
<A NAME="keyword">
<B>key word,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a word, such as a head word or entry word, that serves as a guide to find other words, articles, or topics, in a list. </DL>
<A NAME="kg">
<B>kg.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>keg or kegs. <DD><B> 2. </B>kilogram or kilograms. </DL>
<A NAME="kg">
<B>K.G.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> Knight of the Order of the Garter. </DL>
<A NAME="kgb">
<B>KGB</B> (no periods) or <B>K.G.B.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the official secret police agency of the former Soviet Union, in charge of state security. </DL>
<A NAME="kgf">
<B>kgf</B> (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> kilogram-force (a unit of force in the MKS system, used for calibration of specific instruments). </DL>
<A NAME="kgm">
<B>kgm</B> (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> kilogram-meter. </DL>
<A NAME="kha">
<B>Kha, </B>noun, pl. <B>Kha</B> or <B>Khas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a member of a tribe inhabiting the valleys of southern Laos. </DL>
<A NAME="khaddar">
<B>khaddar, </B>noun. <B>=khadi.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khadi">
<B>khadi, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a very coarse, handloomed, white cotton cloth of India, worn as a garment about the loins and across the shoulder, notably by Gandhi and his followers. </DL>
<A NAME="khaki">
<B>khaki, </B>noun, pl. <B>khakis,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the color of dust; a dull yellowish-brown color. <DD><B> 2. </B>a heavy, twilled cotton cloth of this color, much used for soldiers' uniforms and tents. <DD><B> 3. </B>Also, <B>khakis.</B> <DD><B> a. </B>a uniform or uniforms made of this cloth, usually worn in the summer. <BR> <I>Ex. Khakis will be worn in the parade.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>a uniform made of a similar woolen fabric. <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>dull yellowish-brown. <BR> <I>Ex. khaki pants.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>made of khaki. </DL>
<A NAME="khaleefate">
<B>khaleefate, </B>noun. <B>=caliphate.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khalif">
<B>khalif, </B>noun. <B>=caliph.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khalifat">
<B>khalifat, </B>noun. <B>=caliphate.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khalifate">
<B>khalifate, </B>noun. <B>=caliphate.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khalkha">
<B>Khalkha, </B>noun, pl. <B>-kha</B> or <B>-khas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a member of a Mongolian people constituting the largest population group of the Mongolian People's Republic. <DD><B> 2. </B>the language of this people. It is the official language of their country. </DL>
<A NAME="khamba">
<B>Khamba, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ba</B> or <B>-bas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a member of a tribe inhabiting the mountains of southeastern Tibet, noted for their resistance to Chinese colonization. </DL>
<A NAME="khamseen">
<B>khamseen, </B>noun. <B>=khamsin.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khamsin">
<B>khamsin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an oppressive, hot, southerly wind that blows from the Sahara toward Egypt and Israel at intervals, usually in spring and early summer. Also, <B>hamsin,</B> <B>kamsin,</B> <B>kamseen.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="khan">
<B>khan</B> (1), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the former title of a ruler among Tartar or Mongol tribes, or of the emperor of China during the Middle Ages. <DD><B> 2. </B>a title of respect in Iran, Afghanistan, India, and other parts of central Asia. Also, <B>kahn,</B> <B>kan.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="khan">
<B>khan</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an inn without furnishings in Turkey and nearby countries; caravansary. </DL>
<A NAME="khanate">
<B>khanate, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the territory ruled by a khan. <DD><B> 2. </B>the position or authority of a khan. </DL>
<A NAME="khaph">
<B>khaph, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a fricative form of <I>kaph,</I> the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet. </DL>
<A NAME="khapra">
<B>khapra</B> or <B>Khapra beetle,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a beetle native to southeast Asia that has spread throughout the world and is very destructive to stored grain. </DL>
<A NAME="kharif">
<B>kharif, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the autumn crop in India, sown at the beginning of the summer rains. <DD><B> 2. </B>the rainy season in the Sudan. </DL>
<A NAME="khat">
<B>khat, </B>noun. <B>=kat.</B></DL>
<A NAME="kheda">
<B>kheda</B> or <B>khedah, </B>noun. <B>=keddah.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khedival">
<B>khedival, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a khedive. </DL>
<A NAME="khedivate">
<B>khedivate, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the office, authority, or government of a khedive. </DL>
<A NAME="khedive">
<B>khedive, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the title of the Turkish viceroys who ruled Egypt between 1867 and 1914. </DL>
<B>Khitan, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a member of a Ural-Altaic people who invaded China from Manchuria in A.D. 905. </DL>
<A NAME="khmer">
<B>Khmer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a member of the dominant people of Kampuchea (Cambodia), who developed a great civilization under Indian influence in the 800's to 1300's; Kampuchean. <DD><B> 2. </B>the national language of Kampuchea, of Mon-Khmer stock. </DL>
<A NAME="khmerrouge">
<B>Khmer Rouge,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the Communist guerrilla force (and in the mid-1970's the Communist government) of Cambodia (Kampuchea). <BR> <I>Ex. Once the Khmer Rouge had captured the country, it became apparent that they were determined to wipe out all vestiges of the preceding regime (New Yorker).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="khoikhoi">
<B>Khoikhoi, </B>noun. <B>=Hottentot.</B></DL>
<A NAME="khoisan">
<B>Khoisan, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a group of African languages, including the Bushman languages and Hottentot, characterized by click sounds. </DL>
<A NAME="khotla">
<B>khotla, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a meeting place of villagers in Lesotho. </DL>
<A NAME="khoum">
<B>khoum, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a monetary unit of Mauritania, equal to 1/5 of a ouguiya. </DL>
<A NAME="khrushchevism">
<B>Khrushchevism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> Communism practiced by Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet premier from 1958 to 1964, stressing national interests and peaceful coexistence. </DL>
<A NAME="khud">
<B>khud, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a deep ravine in the East Indies; precipitous cleft or chasm. </DL>
<A NAME="khurta">
<B>khurta, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a long, loose-fitting, collarless shirt worn in India. Also, <B>kurta.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="khz">
<B>kHz</B> (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> kilohertz. </DL>
<A NAME="ki">
<B>ki, </B>noun. <B>=ti</B> (2).</DL>
<A NAME="kia">
<B>KIA</B> (no periods),<DL COMPACT><DD> killed in action (of a member of the U.S. armed forces). </DL>
<A NAME="kiaboocawood">
<B>kiabooca wood, =Amboina wood.</B></DL>
<A NAME="kiang">
<B>kiang, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a wild ass of Tibet, closely related to the onager but larger and with a narrower stripe along its back. Also, <B>kyang.</B> </DL>
<B>kibble</B> (1), verb, <B>-bled,</B> <B>-bling,</B> noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> to grind coarsely; crush into small pieces. <BR> <I>Ex. kibbled biscuits.</I> <DD><I>noun </I> a small piece, as of compressed meal for dog food. </DL>
<A NAME="kibble">
<B>kibble</B> (2), noun, verb, <B>-bled,</B> <B>-bling.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a large bucket for hoisting ore or debris from a mine. <DD><I>v.t., v.i. </I> to hoist (ore or debris) in a kibble. </DL>
<A NAME="kibbutz">
<B>kibbutz, </B>noun, pl. <B>-butzim.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an Israeli communal settlement, especially a farm cooperative. Also, <B>kibutz.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="kibbutznik">
<B>kibbutznik, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a member of a kibbutz. </DL>
<A NAME="kibe">
<B>kibe, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a chapped or ulcerated sore, inflammation, or swelling, especially on the heel, caused by exposure to cold. </DL>
<A NAME="kibed">
<B>kibed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> affected by kibes. </DL>
<A NAME="kibei">
<B>Kibei, </B>noun, pl. <B>-beis.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a Japanese person born in the United States but educated in Japan. </DL>
<A NAME="kibitka">
<B>kibitka, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a Tartar circular tent of collapsible latticework covered with felt. <DD><B> 2. </B>a Russian wagon or sledge with a rounded top or cover. </DL>
