atslēga

 atslēga on Latvian Wikipedia

From the same source as the verb atslēgt (from at- +‎ slēgt (“to close”), q.v.), of which it is a nominal form (made into a 4th-declension feminine noun). First mentioned in 17th-century dictionaries.^[1]

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atslēga f (4th declension)

1. key (object with which one can open or close a lock)

   atslēgu saišķis ― bunch of keys

   dzīvokļa, vārtu, čemodāna atslēgas ― apartment, gate, suitcase keys

   pilsētas atslēgas ― city keys

   atstāt atslēgu durvīs ― to leave the key in the door

   Ruta uzkāpa pa kāpnēm un sameklēja rokas somiņā atslēgu... bet viņai nenācās atslēgt durvis: tās atvērās pašas ― Ruta climbed the stairs and looked for the key in (her) little purse... but she didn't have to unlock the door: it opened itself

2. lock, latch (mechanism on a door, drawer, etc. to keep it closed)

   atslēgas caurums ― key (lit. lock) hole

   atslēgas bulta ― lock bolt

   piekaramā atslēga ― padlock (lit. hanging lock)

   turēt aiz atslēgas ― to keep under lock and key (lit. behind locks)

   viņš aizgājis pie kalēja un licis tam nokalt atslēgu ― he went to the blacksmith and had a lock made

3. wrench, key (a tool for turning screws, nuts, bolts or similar elements)

   strādājot ar atslēgām, nepieciešams, lai atslēgas atvērums labi aptvertu skrūves galvu vai uzgriežņi ― when working with wrenches, it is necessary for the opening to hold tight the screw or bolt head

   paņemu savus amata rīkus: āmuru, cirvi, atslēgas un eju ― I pick up my work tools: hammer, ax, wrenches, and leave

   ar atslēgu uzvelkams pulkstenis ― key-wound clock

4. key, switch (hand-operated contact device for interrupting an electric current)

   telegrāfa atslēga ― telegraphic switch

   atslēgas rokturis ― switch handle

5. (figuratively) key (main precondition for the obtention of something)

   laimes atslēga ― the key to happiness

   dziļa ieinteresētība, nemitīga degsme... ir katra jaunrades darba būtiskais pamats un panākumu atslēga ― deep interest (and) continuous fervor is the essential foundation of all creative work and the key to success

6. (cryptography) key (information that allows the decoding of an encrypted message)

   atslēga teksta šifrēšanai ― the key to the text's encryption

   atrast šifra atslēgu ― to find the encryption key

   1952. gadā atklāja maiju rakstības pamatus, kā arī atšifrēja daudz vārdu, pat veselas frāzes... tātad atslēga seno maiju rakstiem atrasta ― in 1952 the fundamentals of the Mayan writing system were found, and also many words, even whole sentences, were decyphered... so the key to old Mayan writings was found

7. (music) clef (graphic symbol in musical notation used at the beginning of a line to determine the height and type of the following notes)

   vijoles atslēga ― treble clef

   basa atslēga ― bass clef

   atslēgas zīme ― clef symbol

   zemāko oktāvu skaņu apzīmēšanai lieto fa atslēgu, ko sauc arī par basa atslēgu ― to mark the lowest octave sounds one uses the fa clef, also called bass clef

• (of "lock, latch"): slēdzene

• slēdzene
• slēgt