key fob
- noun
- /ki fɑb/
:
llavero
- Her new key fob had a unique design that made it stand out from her other keys.
I had like my key chain with like my Airpods and also like my key fob, which counts as a key.
- I had like my key chain with like my Airpods and also like my key fob, which counts as a key.
Examples
-
He attached a small key fob to his key ring to help him find his keys more easily.
-
I had like my key chain with like my Airpods and also like my key fob, which counts as a key.
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After he lost his keys, he decided to get a brightly colored key fob to ensure he wouldn't misplace them again.
Synonyms
15
1.1
A small ring or chain that holds keys together
4
6.8
A small electronic device on a keyring that opens doors or starts cars
A small object on a key ring used to identify keys or unlock a car from a distance
How Decorative
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly inferable from combining 'key' (an object for opening locks) with 'fob' (a small electronic access device): together they denote a small device associated with keys that grants access or unlocks systems. This noun-noun compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.
Etymology
Key fob comes from a simple, old idea: a 'fob' was a small pocket or tag people used to carry a watch or coin, so a key fob is the small tag or ornament you attach to a key to make it easier to hold or find. That's why it means 'a small item on a key ring'.