lock

SayLOK/lɑk/UK/lɒk/

Verblocks, locking, locked

Noun plurallocks

22 meanings of lock

Practice

1
shut with keyverbtransitive
To fasten something with a lock so others cannot open it or take it away.
Please lock the door before you leave the house.
She locked her bike to the rack outside.
UsageLock the door. Locked out means you can't get in.
Similarsecure, bolt, fasten, padlock, latch
Oppositeunlock, open, unbolt
2
key devicenouncountable
A device that keeps a door, box, or gate shut until you open it with a key or code.
Like a guard that only lets in people who know the secret.
She turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open.
He forgot the combination and couldn't open the lock on his locker.
UsageSay turn the key in the lock.
Similarfastening, latch, bolt
3
jam in placeverbintransitive
To snap into place and become held there firmly.
Like a puzzle piece clicking into place.
The seatbelt will lock if you pull it too fast.
The latch locked with a loud click.
UsageOften used with into place: the parts lock into place when you push them together.
Similarfasten, seize, jam, stiffen
Oppositeunlock, release, loosen
Note
4
join tightlyverbtransitive
To join two things together tightly so they hold and will not slip apart.
Like linking two paper clips so they hang together and pull as one.
She locked her fingers together and waited for the news.
These floor tiles lock together, so you don't need any glue.
UsageOften lock arms or lock fingers.
Similarlink, join, entwine, clasp, mesh
Oppositeseparate, release, detach
Note
5
canal sectionnouncountable
A part of a canal with gates that raise or lower boats between water levels.
Like a water elevator that lifts boats up or down.
The boat waited for the lock to fill with water.
We watched the lock raise the barge to the higher canal.
Note
6
stuck statenouncountable
A tight joining of one thing onto another so it cannot move.
Like two hands gripping each other so tightly they cannot pull apart.
The two gears formed a tight lock that stopped the machine.
The two deer stood with their antlers in a tight lock.
Similarhold, grip, clinch
Note
7
tuft of hairnouncountable
A small bunch of hair, or of wool or hay.
A lock of hair fell across her forehead.
She saved a lock of her son's hair as a keepsake.
UsageSay a lock of hair.
Similartuft, curl, strand, tress, wisp
Note
8
sure thingnouncountable
Something sure to win or happen, or firm control that makes a result certain.
Like a bet you cannot lose.
Everyone said the movie was a lock for an award.
That horse is a lock to win the race.
UsageSay a lock to win or a lock for a prize.
Similarcertainty, cinch, shoo-in
9
wrestling holdnouncountable
A tight hold in wrestling that traps part of an opponent's body.
Like clamping something so tightly that it cannot move at all.
He caught his rival in a lock and forced him onto the mat.
She twisted free from the lock before the count finished.
UsageYou put or catch someone in a lock. Also in words like headlock.
Similarhold, grip, clinch
Note
10
close threadverbtransitive
To stop people from adding to or changing an online post or page.
Like closing a comment box so no one can write more.
A moderator will lock the thread if people start fighting.
They locked the discussion after it turned into an argument.
UsageOften the thread was locked.
Similarclose, freeze
Oppositeunlock, reopen
Note
11
rugby positionnouncountable
In rugby, a tall player who stands in the scrum behind the front row.
Like the tall player who jumps highest to grab the ball.
Their best lock jumped highest to win the ball at the lineout.
He plays as a lock because he is so tall.
Note

Less common meanings

12
access controlnouncountable
A control in a computer system that stops programs from using the same file or data in ways that clash.
Like the only key to a room: whoever holds it goes in, and everyone else waits outside.
The program puts a lock on the file so two people cannot change it at the same time.
While one task holds the lock, the others must wait their turn.
Similarmutex
Note
13
firing mechanismnouncountable
The part of a gun that makes it fire.
Like the part of a lighter that makes the spark.
The old musket's lock had rusted and would not spark.
He cleaned the lock before loading the rifle.
Note
14
wheel clampnouncountable
A device that stops a wheel from turning.
Like something that holds a wheel tight so it cannot roll.
The city put a lock on his car's wheel because of unpaid tickets.
A heavy lock on the trailer wheel stopped anyone from rolling it away.
Similarclamp, boot
15
move boatsverbtransitive
To move a boat up or down by using a canal lock.
Like an elevator for boats, lifting them from one water level to another.
The crew locked the barge down to the lower canal.
It takes about ten minutes to lock a boat through here.
16
freeze (dance)verbintransitive
In dance, to suddenly stop your body and hold still for a moment.
Like a statue that suddenly stops and stands perfectly still.
He locks suddenly when the beat drops.
Good dancers can lock right on the beat.
Similarfreeze, pause, halt
Note
17
play second rowverbintransitive
To play as a lock in rugby, in the row behind the front of the scrum.
He locks for his local club every weekend.
She hopes to lock for the national team one day.
UsageSay lock for a team.
Note
18
nounobsolete
A place you cannot escape from, as if it were locked shut.
Sergestus, eager with his beak to press / Betwixt the rival galley and the rock, / Shuts up the unwieldy Centaur in the lock
1697, Virgil, “The Fifth Book of the Æneis”
19
verb
To trap an opponent's arm by twisting your own around it so they drop their weapon.
20
verbrare
To build locks along a canal so boats can move between water levels.
21
nounrare
A set of bets arranged so you are sure to win money no matter what happens.
22
noun
Long ago in Scotland, a share of ground grain given to a mill worker as payment.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of lock apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–17

The noun comes from Old English 'loc', from older Germanic roots that also gave words meaning 'hole' or 'lid' in many languages. The verb comes from Old English 'lucan', meaning 'to close or shut'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The noun comes from Old English loc. en.wiktionary.org
Its older Germanic ancestor also produced words meaning 'hole' or 'lid' in several languages. en.wiktionary.org
The verb comes from Old English lucan, meaning 'to close or shut'. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 7

This 'lock' meaning a piece of hair comes from Old English 'locc', meaning hair or a curl, from an older Germanic word for a curl, and in the end from an Indo-European root meaning 'to bend'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Lock in the hair sense descends from Old English locc. en.wiktionary.org
Old English locc meant hair or a curl. en.wiktionary.org
The Germanic ancestor *lukkaz meant a lock of hair or curl; it ultimately derives from the Indo-European root *lewg-, meaning to bend. en.wiktionary.org