1
keystone of [something]
Education is the keystone of a successful society.
教育是成功社会的基石。
拱心石；拱顶石
keystones — plural of keystone
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
拱心石；拱顶石
The top stone of an arch or vault that locks the other stones into place.
Education is the keystone of a successful society.
教育是成功社会的基石。
The top stone of an arch.
支持和稳定的核心凝聚力来源
a central cohesive source of support and stability
Something on which other things depend for support.
拱顶或拱门顶部的中央建筑块
the central building block at the top of an arch or vault
The keystone of her argument was the lack of scientific evidence.
她论点的基础是缺乏科学证据。
AI contextual example
Small businesses are the keystone of the local economy.
小企业是当地经济的支柱。
AI contextual example
Education is often considered the keystone of a successful society.
教育常被视为成功社会的基石。
AI contextual example
the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money
竞选改革的关键是禁止软钱
WordNet
Education is the keystone of a successful society.
教育是成功社会的基石。
"keystone" 在此处译为 "关键"，强调核心支撑作用。
This treaty is the keystone in the framework of international cooperation.
这项条约是国际合作框架中的关键。
The river functions as a keystone in the local ecosystem.
这条河流在当地生态系统中起着关键作用。
Not this
The leader keystones the organization.
Use this
The leader is the keystone of the organization.
keystone是名词，不是动词。错误地将其用作动词，应改为系表结构，用be动词加名词表示“是…的核心”。
Not this
He is the keystone in the project.
Use this
He is the keystone of the project.
在表示“是…的核心”时，keystone后应接介词of，而非in。of表示所属关系，in则不符合搭配习惯。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
关键物种（对生态系统影响重大的物种）
The sea otter is a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem.
海獭是海藻林生态系统中的关键物种。
论点的关键（核心依据）
The DNA evidence is the keystone of the argument.
DNA证据是这一论点的关键。
拱门的拱顶石
The mason carved the keystone of the arch from a single block of granite.
石匠用一整块花岗岩雕刻拱门的拱顶石。
核心习惯（能带动其他积极习惯的习惯）
Getting enough sleep is a keystone habit for better health.
充足睡眠是改善健康的核心习惯。
对半加价定价法（零售价为成本价的两倍）
The shop uses keystone pricing on most of its goods.
这家店对大部分商品采用对半加价定价法。
（棒球）二垒手和游击手的组合
The team’s keystone combination executed two double plays.
这支球队的二垒手和游击手组合完成了两次双杀。
某事的关键；核心基础
The respect of the people is the keystone of any democratic government.
人民的尊重是任何民主政府的关键基础。
关键物种（对生态系统影响大于其生物量占比的物种）
Wolves are a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park.
狼是黄石国家公园的关键物种。
笨拙的警察；乌合之众（源自同名无声喜剧影片）
The security team at that store made the Keystone Kops look competent.
那家商店的保安团队让笨手笨脚的警察看起来都算能干。
Use keystones naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记 keystone = key + stone：拱门顶部那块“钥匙石”一抽掉，整座拱就散架，所以它是支撑全局的关键。
语域：formal 常见场景：建筑学（拱顶石）、抽象正式写作（核心/基石） keystone 在建筑学中指拱顶石，属于正式、技术性用语；引申义指事物的“核心”或“基石”，也多见于正式写作或抽象论述。日常口语中若想表达“关键”概念，用 key、foundation 等词会更自然。请根据语体选择，避免在随意的口语里显得生硬。
All these words rhyme with the final /stoʊn/ of 'keystone': stone, bone, cone, phone, throne, alone (the last is stressed on the second syllable, /əˈloʊn/, but ends with the same /oʊn/). They share the spelling pattern 'one'. Beware of lookalikes: 'key' (/kiː/) and 'keyboard' (/ˈkiːbɔːrd/) begin with the same 'key' spelling as 'keystone' but sound completely different; 'kestrel' (/ˈkestrəl/) is another lookalike with a different first syllable.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.