Keystone

Pronunciation: /ˈkiːˌstoʊn/

Keystone (noun)

  1. A central stone at the top of an arch that holds the structure together.
  2. An essential or most important part of a plan, system, or idea.
  3. A species that has a large effect on its environment and influences other species.

Examples

  • The keystone holds the arch together.
  • Without the keystone, the arch would collapse.

Common collocations: remove the keystone, place the keystone, keystone of strategy, serve as a keystone, keystone element

Synonyms of Keystone

Formal

Neutral

Antonyms of Keystone

  • describing something non-central or secondary