Galician

Etymology

From Latin clāvis.

Noun

chave f ‎(plural chaves)

1. key (to open doors)
2. key (of musical instrument)
3. key (crucial step)
4. wrench, spanner
5. curly bracket
6. faucet, tap (water faucet)
7. chokehold

Synonyms

• (crucial step): clave
• (device to dispense liquid): billa
• (device to turn electric current): interruptor

Middle English

Verb

chave

1. I have
   • William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

     Kissyng and lying ich see is all one:
     And chave no mony, chul tell true therfore.

Portuguese

chave

Etymology

From Old Portuguese chave ‎(“key”), from Latin clāvis ‎(“key”), from Proto-Italic *klāwis ‎(“bolt, lock, bar”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kleh₂u- ‎(“nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for locking doors”).

Cognate with Galician chave, Spanish llave, Catalan clau, Occitan clau, French clé, Italian chiave and Romanian cheie.

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʃa.vɨ/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʃa.vi/
• (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʃa.ve/
• Hyphenation: cha‧ve
• Rhymes: -avi

Noun

chave f (plural chaves)

1. key
2. curly bracket
3. wrench, spanner

Related terms

• chavão
• chaveiro
• clave

Derived terms

Descendants

See also

• fechadura f
• parêntese m
• colchete m