# atslēga
## Latvian
### Etymology

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.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [atslæ̂ːɡa]
* Audio:(file)

### Noun

atslēga f (4th declension)
* 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
* 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
* 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
* key, switch (hand-operated contact device for interrupting an electric current)
    telegrāfa atslēga ― telegraphic switch
    atslēgas rokturis ― switch handle
* (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
* (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
* (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

#### Synonyms

* (of "lock, latch"): slēdzene

#### Related terms

* slēdzene
* slēgt

### References

* ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “slēgt”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca‎ (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN