pedra de esquina
1. The central stone of an arch that locks the other stones in place
The keystone of the arch was carefully positioned to support the entire structure.
A pedra de esquina do arco foi cuidadosamente posicionada para sustentar toda a estrutura.
2. A fundamental element upon which something depends; the key factor
Education is the keystone of economic development.
A educação é a pedra de esquina do desenvolvimento econômico.
3. Something that is essential or crucial to a system or concept
Trust is the keystone of any successful relationship.
A confiança é a pedra de esquina de qualquer relacionamento bem-sucedido.
In American English, 'keystone' is frequently used metaphorically in business, education, and social contexts to describe critical foundational elements. In Portuguese, 'pedra de esquina' maintains both literal architectural meaning and figurative importance, similar to English usage. The term is recognizable across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though regional variations exist in technical architectural terminology.
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