keynote

Meanings

Plural: keynotes

Noun

• the principal theme in a speech or literary work
• a fundamental or central idea
• (music) the first note of a diatonic scale
• A speech that sets the main theme of a conference or other gathering; a keynote speech or keynote address.
• The main theme of a speech, a written work, or a conference.
• The note on which a musical key is based; the tonic.

Verb

• set the keynote of
  • "Comfort keynotes this designer's Fall collection"
• give the keynote address to (an audience)
• To deliver a speech that sets the main theme of a conference or other gathering.

Synonyms

tonic