Allen key
- noun
- /ˈælən ki/
- UK
:
llave Allen
- To assemble the shelf, you will need an Allen key to tighten the bolts.
Examples
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So using the appropriate sized Allen key, we can just go and undo that.
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You need an Allen key.
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So I got my Allen keys...
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You haven't got an Allen key, have you?
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I didn't have the right Allen key, and it broke in half before I could use it.
Blog text (29) -
You see, as I turn the Allen key clockwise, the nut moves backwards and pulls on that Kevlar string, which pulls on the canvas.
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Make sure to find the correct size Allen key for the screws on your bike.
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The coffee table was easy to put together; all I needed was the provided Allen key.
Synonyms
2
4.1
A small L-shaped tool with a six-sided end used to turn bolts with six-sided holes
1
4.2
A small L-shaped tool used to turn screws with a six-sided hole
A small metal tool with a six-sided bar for turning screws with matching holes
A small metal tool with a six-sided end for turning screws with a matching hole
A small metal tool with a six-sided tip that turns screws with a six-sided hole in the head
A tool like an Allen key for turning bolts and screws with six-sided sockets
Surface Forms
Morphology
Allen + key
The element 'key' signals a tool, so learners who know 'key' will infer this is a kind of tool; however 'Allen' is a proper name/brand (not a descriptive adjective) and does not convey the crucial information that it is a hexagonal/hex-socket driver. Because part of the meaning (that it is a tool) is transparent but the specific shape/function is not predictable from the constituents, the expression is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Allen key probably gets its name from a maker called 'Allen' who sold a small L-shaped metal tool. The L-shaped key fits into a six-sided hole in bolts, so the name Allen key came to mean the small tool used to turn those screws.