Keyboard

[kee-bawrd, -bohrd] /ˈkiˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd/

noun
1.
the row or set of on a piano, organ, or the like.
2.
a set of keys usually arranged in tiers, for operating a typewriter, typesetting machine, computer terminal, or the like.
3.
any of various musical instruments played by means of a pianolike keyboard, as a piano, electric piano, or organ.
verb (used with or without object)
4.
Also, key, key in. Computers. to enter (information) into a computer by means of a keyboard.
5.
to set (text) in type, using a machine that is operated by a keyboard.
/ˈkiːˌbɔːd/
noun
1.

2.
(often pl) a musical instrument, esp an electronic one, played by means of a keyboard
verb
3.
to set (a text, etc) in type, onto magnetic tape, or into some other medium, by using a keyboard machine
n.

1819, from key (n.1) in sense of “mechanism of a musical instrument” + board (n.1). Originally of pianos, organs, etc., extended to other machines 1846. The verb is first recorded 1926 (implied in keyboarding).
hardware
A hardware device consisting of a number of mechanical buttons (keys) which the user presses to input characters to a computer.
Keyboards were originally part of terminals which were separate peripheral devices that performed both input and output and communicated with the computer via a serial line. Today a keyboard is more likely to be connected more directly to the processor, allowing the processor to scan it and detect which key or keys are currently pressed. Pressing a key sends a low-level key code to the keyboard input driver routine which translates this to one or more characters or special actions.
Keyboards vary in the keys they have, most have keys to generate the ASCII character set as well as various function keys and special purpose keys, e.g. reset or volume control.
(2003-07-04)