clef

Alternative forms

• cliff (obsolete)

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French clef, from Latin clāvis (“a key”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛf

Noun

clef (plural clefs)

1. A symbol found on a musical staff that indicates the pitches indicated by the lines and the spaces on the staff

Etymology

See clé.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kle/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -e
• Homophones: clé, clefs, clés

Noun

clef f (plural clefs)

1. Alternative form of clé (“key”)
2. (music) clef
3. (heraldry) key; the device as shown on a coat of arms

Further reading

• “clef” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

From Old French clef.

Noun

clef f (plural clefs)

1. key

Adjective

clef m, f (invariable)

1. key (vitally important)

Etymology

From Latin clāvis, clāvem (“a key”).

Noun

clef f (oblique plural cles, nominative singular clef, nominative plural cles)

1. key