Standard Lemma guide

keyframe

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: /ˈkiˌfɹeɪm/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A single frame in an animation sequence drawn by an artist, between which others are tweened.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A complete video frame, used as a reference for subsequent interframes in video compression.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computer-graphics, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To animate by interpolation between successive keyframes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From key + frame.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 鍵架 /键架 (jiànjià) — a single frame in an animation
  • Finnish: avainpiirros — a single frame in an animation
  • Finnish: avainkehys — a single frame in an animation
  • French: image clé — a single frame in an animation
  • German: Keyframe — a single frame in an animation
  • Japanese: 原画 (genga) — a single frame in an animation
  • Portuguese: quadro-chave — a single frame in an animation
  • Portuguese: fotograma-chave — a single frame in an animation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 關鍵格 /关键格 (guānjiàngé) — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • Chinese Mandarin: 鍵架 /键架 (jiànjià) — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • Finnish: avainkuva — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • Finnish: avainruutu — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • French: image clé — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • German: Schlüsselbild — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • German: Keyframe — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • Japanese: キーフレーム (kīfurēmu) — complete frame used as a reference for interframes
  • Portuguese: quadro-chave — complete frame used as a reference for interframes