key down
C1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
Hold a key down, or make something quieter or lower in music.
Literal meaning: To press a key in a downward direction.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To press and hold a key on a keyboard or musical instrument.
"Key down the Shift key before clicking to select multiple files."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
neutral
To lower the musical key or pitch of a piece of audio or music.
"The producer keyed down the track by two semitones to suit the singer's range."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Used in technical contexts (keyboards, music software) to mean pressing a key continuously. In music production, it can mean lowering the key of a track. Rare in everyday speech.
Commonly used with
pitch note volume tone key button
Forms
Base
key down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
keys down
he/she/it
Past simple
keyed down
yesterday
Past participle
keyed down
have + pp
-ing form
keying down
continuous
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Synonyms
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