lock

[ lok ]

/ lɒk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lock ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.

a contrivance for fastening or securing something.

(in a firearm)

the mechanism that explodes the charge; gunlock.
safety(def 4).

any device or part for stopping temporarily the motion of a mechanism.

an enclosed chamber in a canal, dam, etc., with gates at each end, for raising or lowering vessels from one level to another by admitting or releasing water.

an air lock or decompression chamber.

complete and unchallenged control; an unbreakable hold: The congresswoman has a lock on the senatorial nomination.

Slang. someone or something certain of success; sure thing: He's a lock to win the championship.

Wrestling. any of various holds, especially a hold secured on the arm, leg, or head: leg lock.

Horology. (in an escapement) the overlap between a tooth of an escape wheel and the surface of the pallet locking it.

Metalworking. a projection or recession in the mating face of a forging die.

verb (used with object)

to fasten or secure (a door, window, building, etc.) by the operation of a lock or locks.

to shut in a place fastened by a lock or locks, as for security or restraint.

to make fast or immovable by or as if by a lock: He locked the steering wheel on his car.

to make fast or immovable, as by engaging parts: to lock the wheels of a wagon.

to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining: to lock arms.

to hold fast in an embrace: She was locked in his arms.

to move (a ship) by means of a lock or locks, as in a canal (often followed by through, in, out, down, or up).

to furnish with locks, as a canal.

verb (used without object)

to become locked: This door locks with a key.

to become fastened, fixed, or interlocked: gears that lock into place.

to go or pass by means of a lock or locks, as a vessel.

to construct locks in waterways.

Verb Phrases

lock in,

to commit unalterably: to lock in the nomination of the party's candidates.
(of an investor) to be unable or unwilling to sell or shift securities.

lock off, to enclose (a waterway) with a lock.

lock on, to track or follow a target or object automatically by radar or other electronic means.

lock out,

to keep out by or as if by a lock.
to subject (employees) to a lockout.

lock up,

to imprison for a crime.
Printing. to make (type) immovable in a chase by securing the quoins.
to fasten or secure with a lock or locks.
to lock the doors of a house, automobile, etc.
to fasten or fix firmly, as by engaging parts.

Nearby words

lochiometra, lochiometritis, lochiorrhea, lochus, loci, lock, lock bay, lock horns, lock in, lock nut, lock on to

Idioms

lock horns, to come into conflict; clash: to lock horns with a political opponent.

lock, stock, and barrel, completely; entirely; including every part, item, or facet, no matter how small or insignificant: We bought the whole business, lock, stock, and barrel.

under lock and key, securely locked up: The documents were under lock and key.

Origin of lock

before 900; Middle English; Old English loc fastening, bar; cognate with Middle Low German lok, Old High German loh, Old Norse lok a cover, lid, Gothic -luk in usluk opening; akin to Old English lūcan to shut

Related formslock·less, adjectiveself-lock·ing, adjectivewell-locked, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for lock up (1 of 3)

lock up

verb (adverb)

Also: lock in, lock away (tr) to imprison or confine

to lock or secure the doors, windows, etc, of (a building)

(tr) to keep or store securelysecrets locked up in history

(tr) to invest (funds) so that conversion into cash is difficult

printing to secure (type, etc) in a chase or in the bed of the printing machine by tightening the quoins

noun lockup

the action or time of locking up

a jail or block of cells

British a small shop with no attached quarters for the owner or shopkeeper

British a garage or storage place separate from the main premises

stock exchange an investment that is intended to be held for a relatively long period

printing the pages of type held in a chase by the positioning of quoins

adjective

lock-up British and NZ (of premises) without living accommodationa lock-up shop

British Dictionary definitions for lock up (2 of 3)

lock

/ (lɒk) /

noun

a device fitted to a gate, door, drawer, lid, etc, to keep it firmly closed and often to prevent access by unauthorized persons

a similar device attached to a machine, vehicle, etc, to prevent use by unauthorized personsa steering lock

a section of a canal or river that may be closed off by gates to control the water level and the raising and lowering of vessels that pass through it
(as modifier)a lock gate

the jamming, fastening, or locking together of parts

British the extent to which a vehicle's front wheels will turn to the right or leftthis car has a good lock

a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun

US and Canadian informal a person or thing that is certain to win or to succeedshe is a lock for the Academy Award

lock, stock, and barrel completely; entirely

any wrestling hold in which a wrestler seizes a part of his opponent's body and twists it or otherwise exerts pressure upon it

Also called: lock forward rugby either of two players who make up the second line of the scrum and apply weight to the forwards in the front line

a gas bubble in a hydraulic system or a liquid bubble in a pneumatic system that stops or interferes with the fluid flow in a pipe, capillary, etcan air lock

verb

to fasten (a door, gate, etc) or (of a door, etc) to become fastened with a lock, bolt, etc, so as to prevent entry or exit

(tr) to secure (a building) by locking all doors, windows, etc

to fix or become fixed together securely or inextricably

to become or cause to become rigid or immovablethe front wheels of the car locked

(when tr, often passive) to clasp or entangle (someone or each other) in a struggle or embrace

(tr) to furnish (a canal) with locks

(tr) to move (a vessel) through a system of locks

lock horns (esp of two equally matched opponents) to become engaged in argument or battle

lock the stable door after the horse has bolted or lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen to take precautions after harm has been done

Word Origin for lock

Old English loc; related to Old Norse lok

British Dictionary definitions for lock up (3 of 3)

lock

/ (lɒk) /

noun

a strand, curl, or cluster of hair

a tuft or wisp of wool, cotton, etc

(plural) mainly literary hair, esp when curly or fine

Word Origin for lock

Old English loc; related to Old Frisian lok, Old Norse lokkr lock of wool

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lock up (1 of 3)

lock

n.1

"means of fastening," Old English loc "bolt, fastening; barrier, enclosure," from Proto-Germanic *lukan (cf. Old Norse lok "fastening, lock," Gothic usluks "opening," Old High German loh "dungeon," German Loch "opening, hole," Dutch luik "shutter, trapdoor"). "The great diversity of meaning in the Teut. words seems to indicate two or more independent but formally identical substantival formations from the root."

The Old English sense "barrier, enclosure" led to the specific meaning "barrier on a river" (c.1300), and the more specific sense "gate and sluice system on a water channel used as a means of raising and lowering boats" (1570s). Wrestling sense is from c.1600. Phrase under lock and key attested from early 14c.

Word Origin and History for lock up (1 of 3)

lock

n.2

"tress of hair," Old English locc "lock of hair, curl," from Proto-Germanic *lukkoz (cf. Old Norse lokkr, Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Dutch lok, Old High German loc, German Locke "lock of hair"), from PIE *lugnos-, perhaps related to Greek lygos "pliant twig, withe," Lithuanian lugnas "flexible."

Word Origin and History for lock up (2 of 3)

lock

"to fasten with a lock," c.1300, from Old English lucan "to lock, to close" (class II strong verb; past tense leac, past participle locen), from the same root as lock (n.1). Cognate with Old Frisian luka "to close," Old Saxon lukan, Old High German luhhan, Old Norse luka, Gothic galukan. Meaning "to embrace closely" is from 1610s. Related: Locked; locking. Slang lock horns "fight" is from 1839.

Idioms and Phrases with lock up (1 of 2)

lock up

Close a house or place of work, fastening all the doors and windows, as in The attendant locks up at eleven o'clock every night, or Did you remind Abby to lock up? [Late 1500s]

Invest in something not easily converted into cash, as in Most of their assets were locked up in real estate. [Late 1600s]

lock someone up. Confine or imprison someone, as in The princes were locked up in the Tower of London. [c. 1300]

Idioms and Phrases with lock up (2 of 2)

lock

In addition to the idioms beginning with lock

lock horns
lock in
lock out
lock the barn door after the horse has bolted
lock up

also see:

under lock and key

lock