keystone

views updated May 17 2018

key·stone / ˈkēˌstōn/ • n. a central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the whole together. ∎  [usu. in sing.] the central principle or part of a policy, system, etc., on which all else depends: cooperation remains the keystone of the government's security policy.

keystone

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

keystone

views updated Jun 08 2018

keystone. Wedge-shaped key-block at the crown of an arch to consolidate a structure.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

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