keynote

key·note

tonic (noun)
the basic idea or ruling principle, as of a speech or policy

transitive verb

-·not·ed, -·not·ing

to give the keynote of
to deliver the keynote address at

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MLA Style

"keynote." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/keynote>.

APA Style

keynote. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/keynote

keynote

noun

The tonic of a musical key.
A prime underlying element or theme: “The keynote of the revolution settlement was personal freedom under the law” ( G.M. Trevelyan )

transitive verb

key·not·ed, key·not·ing, key·notes

To give or set the keynote of.
Informal To give a keynote address at: keynoted the press luncheon.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"keynote." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/keynote>.

APA Style

keynote. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/keynote

Noun

(plural keynotes)

(music) The note on which a musical key is based; the tonic.
The main theme of a speech, a written work, or a conference.
A speech that sets the main theme of a conference or other gathering; a keynote speech or keynote address.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present keynotes, present participle keynoting, simple past and past participle keynoted)