keyboard
KEE-bawd
Keyboard (noun) means the set of keys used to type on a computer or typewriter. Example: “One key on my keyboard keeps sticking, so I need to clean it.”
noun
1
The set of keys used to type on a computer or typewriter.
"One key on my keyboard keeps sticking, so I need to clean it."
"He spilled coffee on his laptop keyboard."
"She types over 80 words a minute on a standard keyboard."
2
An electronic musical instrument played with piano-like keys.
"She plays keyboard in a jazz trio and practises every evening after work."
"He carried his heavy keyboard on a stand to the school concert."
"The band added a keyboard to fill out their sound."
verb
1
To type something using a computer keyboard.
"I keyboarded the whole list of names into the spreadsheet before lunch."
"Could you keyboard these handwritten notes so we can share them with the team?"
"She keyboarded the report while the meeting was still fresh in her mind."
How to use keyboard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe row(s) of keys you type or play music on, or the instrument itself.
Common pairings
computer keyboard
keyboard shortcut
play the keyboard
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like keyboard.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- keyboards
- Third person singular
- keyboards
- Past tense
- keyboarded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
One key on my _____ keeps sticking, so I need to clean it.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "key" and "board" — literally a board fitted with keys.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for keyboard
board
hoard
aboard
onboard
cupboard
outboard
seaboard
backboard
starboard
cardboard
surfboard
clipboard
See all rhymes for keyboard →
Frequently asked questions
What does “keyboard” mean?
The word “keyboard” means the set of keys used to type on a computer or typewriter. In plain terms, the row(s) of keys you type or play music on, or the instrument itself.
How do you pronounce “keyboard”?
“Keyboard” is pronounced KEE-bawd (/ˈki.bɔɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “keyboard” in a sentence?
Here is “keyboard” used in a sentence: “He spilled coffee on his laptop keyboard.”
What part of speech is “keyboard”?
Depending on how it is used, “keyboard” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “keyboard” a common word?
“Keyboard” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “keyboard” have?
“Keyboard” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the set of keys used to type on a computer or typewriter.
What is the difference between a keyboard and a piano?
A piano is an acoustic instrument that makes sound with hammers striking strings, while a keyboard is typically an electronic instrument that produces or samples sounds and is lighter and more portable. In this sense a keyboard imitates a piano and often many other instruments too.
What is the difference between a keyboard and a synthesizer?
A keyboard broadly means any instrument played with piano-style keys, while a synthesizer specifically generates and shapes electronic sounds. Many keyboards include a synthesizer, but not every keyboard is a full synthesizer.
What is the difference between a keyboard and a keypad?
A keyboard is the full set of keys used to type letters, numbers, and commands, whereas a keypad is a smaller set of keys, often just numbers, such as on a calculator or phone. A keypad usually forms part of, or supplements, a keyboard.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include keyboard:
