keyhole

From key +‎ hole.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkiˌhoʊl/

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keyhole (plural keyholes)

1. The hole in a lock where the key is inserted and turns.
2. Any small opening resembling the hole for a key in shape or function; especially, one that gives a vista of, or access to, a space beyond.
   1. A small incision through which surgical instruments can reach into an anatomic space beyond.

      Coordinate term: buttonhole

3. A circle cut out of a garment as a decorative effect, typically at the front or back neckline of a dress.
4. (carpentry) A hole or excavation in beams intended to be joined together, to receive the key that fastens them.
5. (engineering) A mortise for a key or cotter.
6. (lasers) A transient column of vapor or plasma formed when using high energy beams, such as lasers, for welding or cutting.

   laser keyhole welding

   keyhole plasma

7. (metallurgy) A welding method in which a hole forms in the surface immediately ahead of the puddle in the direction of welding. The hole is filled as the weld progresses.
8. (basketball) The free-throw lane together with the circle surrounding the free-throw line; key.
9. (astronomy) A gravitational keyhole.

keyhole (third-person singular simple present keyholes, present participle keyholing, simple past and past participle keyholed)

1. (firearms) To strike a target after wobbling in flight so that the long axis of the bullet does not follow the line of flight, typically due to insufficient spin resulting from the rifling in the barrel.

• keyhole neckline
• keyhole surgery
• keyhole wound