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noun

keyhole

KEE-hohl
noun
1
The opening in a lock where the key is inserted.
"She peered through the keyhole to see who was knocking."
2
A small opening resembling a keyhole in shape, sometimes used to describe a limited or narrow view of something.
"The article gave readers only a keyhole glimpse into the star's private life."

How to Use Keyhole

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe small hole in a lock for inserting a key, or by extension, a narrow, limited view of something.

Common pairings
peek through the keyhole keyhole surgery

Word Forms

keyholed past tense, keyholes plural, keyholes singular

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She peered through the _____ to see who was knocking.

Etymology

A compound of "key" and "hole" — literally the hole a key fits into.

Rhymes for keyhole

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial