Key vs. Pivotal — What's the Difference?

Of crucial importance in a specific context.

Acting as a turning point.

Necessary for understanding or progress.

Influencing the outcome or direction.

Serving as an essential part.

Central and having a significant effect on how something develops.

Fundamental or central to something.

Indicating movement or change.

Unlocking or providing access.

Transformative impact on a situation.

A notched and grooved, usually metal implement that is turned to open or close a lock.

Of, relating to, or serving as a pivot.

A similar implement or an electronic device used for opening, winding, or starting something

Being of vital or central importance; crucial

A device, such as a wedge or pin, inserted to lock together mechanical or structural parts.

Of, relating to, or being a pivot.

A keycard.

Being of crucial importance; central, key.

A determining factor in accomplishing or achieving something

Of or pertaining to a pivot or turning point; belonging to, or constituting, a pivot; of the nature of a pivot; as, the pivotalopportunity of a career; the pivotal position in a battle.

Something that provides access to or understanding of something else

Being of crucial importance;

A set of answers to a test.

A table, gloss, or cipher containing correspondences, as for decoding or interpreting something.

(Computers) A number used by a cryptographic algorithm to encrypt or decrypt data.

(Architecture) The keystone in the crown of an arch.

A button or lever that is depressed to operate a machine.

A button that is depressed to cause a corresponding character or function to be typed or executed by a typewriter or to be accepted as input by a computer.

(Music) A button or lever that is depressed with the finger to produce or modulate the sound of an instrument, such as a clarinet or piano.

A tonal system consisting of seven tones in fixed relationship to a tonic, having a characteristic key signature and being the structural foundation of the bulk of Western music; tonality.

The principal tonality of a work

The pitch of a voice or other sound.

A characteristic tone or level of intensity, as of a speech or sales campaign. Often used in combination

(Botany) A samara.

An outline of the distinguishing characteristics of a group of organisms, used as a guide in taxonomic identification.

(Basketball) An area at each end of the court between the baseline and the foul line and including the jump-ball circle at the foul line

The act of replacing portions of a video or photograph containing a preselected color with material from a separate image, as by chroma key.

A low offshore island or reef, especially in the Gulf of Mexico; a cay.

A kilogram of marijuana, cocaine, or heroin.

Of crucial importance; significant

To lock with a key.

To be the determining or crucial factor in

(Architecture) To furnish (an arch) with a keystone.

(Music) To regulate the pitch of.

To bring into harmony; adjust or adapt

To cause to pay attention to

To supply with a key of correspondences or with corresponding references

To operate (a device), as for typesetting, by means of a keyboard.

To enter (data) into a computer by means of a keyboard.

To identify (a biological specimen).

To vandalize or mar by scratching with a key

To produce, replace, or include by chroma key.

To pay close attention; focus

(Sports) To watch or cover an opposing player closely in an effort to limit the player's effectiveness. Used with on

To replace portions of a video or photograph containing a preselected color with material from a separate image, as by chroma key.

An object designed to open and close a lock.

An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.

A crucial step or requirement.

A guide explaining the symbols or terminology of a map or chart; a legend.

A guide to the correct answers of a worksheet or test.

(computing) One of several small, usually square buttons on a typewriter or computer keyboard, mostly corresponding to text characters.

(music)

In musical instruments, one of the valve levers used to select notes, such as a lever opening a hole on a woodwind.

In instruments with a keyboard such as an organ or piano, one of the levers, or especially the exposed front end of it, which are depressed to cause a particular sound or note to be produced.

(music) A scale or group of pitches constituting the basis of a musical composition.

The lowest note of a scale; keynote.

In musical theory, the total melodic and harmonic relations, which exist between the tones of an ideal scale, major or minor; tonality.

In musical theory and notation, the tonality centering in a given tone, or the several tones taken collectively, of a given scale, major or minor.

In musical notation, a sign at the head of a staff indicating the musical key.

(figurative) The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.

(advertising) A modification of an advertisement so as to target a particular group or demographic.

(botany) An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, such as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara.

(historical) A manual electrical switching device primarily used for the transmission of Morse code.

(cryptography) A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.

(internet) A password restricting access to an IRC channel.

(databases) In a relational database, a field used as an index into another table (not necessarily unique).

(computing) A value that uniquely identifies an entry in a container.

(basketball) The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line, the free-throw lane having formerly been narrower, giving the area the shape of a skeleton key hole.

(biology) A series of logically organized groups of discriminating information which aims to allow the user to correctly identify a taxon.

(architecture) A piece of wood used as a wedge.

(architecture) The last board of a floor when laid down.

(masonry) A keystone.

That part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.

(rail transport) A wooden support for a rail on the bullhead rail system.

The degree of roughness, or retention ability of a surface to have applied a liquid such as paint, or glue.

(cartomancy) The thirty-third card of the Lenormand deck.

(print and film) The black ink layer, especially in relation to the three color layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow. See also CMYK.

A color to be masked or made transparent.

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One of a string of small islands.

(slang) kilogram (especially of a recreational drug)

Indispensable, supremely important.

Important, salient.

To fit (a lock) with a key.

To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.

To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.

(telegraphy and radio telegraphy) To depress (a telegraph key).

(radio) To operate (the transmitter switch of a two-way radio).

(computing) (more usually to key in) To enter (information) by typing on a keyboard or keypad.

(colloquial) To vandalize (a car, etc.) by scratching with an implement such as a key.

To link (as one might do with a key or legend).

To be identified as a certain taxon when using a key.

To modify (an advertisement) so as to target a particular group or demographic.

To attune to; to set at; to pitch.

To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.

To prepare for plastering by adding the key that part of the plastering which is forced through between the laths and holds the rest in place.

An instrument by means of which the bolt of a lock is shot or drawn; usually, a removable metal instrument fitted to the mechanism of a particular lock and operated by turning in its place.

A small device which is inserted into a mechanism and turned like a key to fasten, adjust, or wind it; as, a watch key; a bed key; the winding key for a clock, etc.

One of a set of small movable parts on an instrument or machine which, by being depressed, serves as the means of operating it; the complete set of keys is usually called the keyboard; as, the keys of a piano, an organ, an accordion, a computer keyboard, or of a typewriter. The keys may operate parts of the instrument by a mechanical action, as on a piano, or by closing an electrical circuit, as on a computer keyboard. See also senses 12 and 13.

A position or condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation.

That part of a mechanism which serves to lock up, make fast, or adjust to position.

A piece of wood used as a wedge.

A keystone.

A wedge to unite two or more pieces, or adjust their relative position; a cotter; a forelock.

An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit furnished with a wing, as the fruit of the ash and maple; a samara; - called also key fruit.

A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key.

Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.

A metallic lever by which the circuit of the sending or transmitting part of a station equipment may be easily and rapidly opened and closed; as, a telegraph key.

Any device for closing or opening an electric circuit, especially as part of a keyboard, as that used at a computer terminal or teletype terminal.

A simplified version or analysis which accompanies something as a clue to its explanation, a book or table containing the solutions to problems, ciphers, allegories, or the like;

A word or other combination of symbols which serves as an index identifying and pointing to a particular record, file, or location which can be retrieved and displayed by a computer program; as, a database using multi-word keys. When the key is a word, it is also called a keyword.

To fasten or secure firmly; to fasten or tighten with keys or wedges.

To enter (text, data) using keys, especially those on a keyboard; to keyboard; as, to key the data in by hand.

To adjust so as to be maximally effective in a particular situation; - of actions, plans, or speech; as, to key one's campaign speech to each local audience.

To furnish with a key or keys.

Essential; most important; as, the key fact in the inquiry; the president was the key player inthe negotiations.

Metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

Something crucial for explaining;

Pitch of the voice;

Any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music

A kilogram of a narcotic drug;

A winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple

United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843)

A coral reef off the southern coast of Florida

(basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court;

A list of answers to a test;

A list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations

A generic term for any device whose possession entitles the holder to a means of access;

Mechanical device used to wind another device that is driven by a spring (as a clock)

The central building block at the top of an arch or vault

A lever that actuates a mechanism when depressed

Identify as in botany or biology, for example

Provide with a key;

Vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key;

Regulate the musical pitch of

Harmonize with or adjust to;

Serving as an essential component;

Effective; producing a desired effect;

Yes, a moment can be both key and pivotal if it is crucially important and serves as a turning point.

A key factor is a fundamental aspect considered in decision-making, while a pivotal decision is one that significantly alters the course of action.

The main difference is that key implies crucial importance or functionality, while pivotal suggests a central role with transformative influence.

A decision becomes pivotal when it has the power to change the direction or outcome significantly.

A pivotal event in history signifies a moment that drastically changed the course of historical development.

Yes, pivotal roles are central by definition because they influence the plot's direction or outcome.

Yes, a character can be pivotal by causing significant changes or influencing the plot, without being the protagonist.

Both are important; key factors inform the planning process, while pivotal decisions determine strategic direction.

While a pivotal moment is often key due to its significant impact, not all key moments are pivotal since they might not cause a dramatic shift.

Key elements ground the narrative in essential concepts, while pivotal moments drive the narrative forward by introducing significant changes.

Yes, something can be key if it's crucially important without necessarily being a turning point.

Key themes provide the foundational ideas, while pivotal moments bring about significant developments or revelations within those themes.

Key principles underpin scientific understanding, while pivotal theories introduce transformative concepts that change the way we understand phenomena.

A key element can be identified by its fundamental importance and the role it plays in the underlying structure or understanding of the situation.

Pivotal moments often lead to significant growth or change in characters, shaping their development throughout the narrative.