LOCK

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lock mean? 

• LOCK (noun)
  The noun LOCK has 6 senses:

1. a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
2. a strand or cluster of hair
3. a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun
4. enclosure consisting of a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it
5. a restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the key
6. any wrestling hold in which some part of the opponent's body is twisted or pressured

  Familiarity information: LOCK used as a noun is common.

• LOCK (verb)
  The verb LOCK has 9 senses:

1. fasten with a lock
2. keep engaged
3. become rigid or immoveable
4. hold in a locking position
5. become engaged or intermeshed with one another
6. hold fast (in a certain state)
7. place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape
8. pass by means through a lock in a waterway
9. build locks in order to facilitate the navigation of vessels

  Familiarity information: LOCK used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LOCK (noun)

Sense 1

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lock" is a kind of...):

fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)

Meronyms (parts of "lock"):

bolt; deadbolt (the part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key)

keyhole (the hole where a key is inserted)

tumbler (a movable obstruction in a lock that must be adjusted to a given position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lock"):

sash fastener; sash lock; window lock (a lock attached to the sashes of a double hung window that can fix both in the shut position)

padlock (a detachable lock; has a hinged shackle that can be passed through the staple of a hasp or the links in a chain and then snapped shut)

lever lock (a lock whose tumblers are levers that must be raised to a given position so that the bolt can move)

door latch; latch (spring-loaded doorlock that can only be opened from the outside with a key)

doorlock (a lock on an exterior door)

cylinder lock (a lock in which a cylinder rotates to move a bolt; tumblers are pins; inserting the key lifts and aligns the pins to free the cylinder to rotate)

combination lock (lock that can be opened only by turning dials in a special sequence)

Holonyms ("lock" is a part of...):

drawer (a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out)

gate (a movable barrier in a fence or wall)

door (a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle)

lid (a movable top or cover (hinged or separate) for closing the opening of a container)

Sense 2

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A strand or cluster of hair

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

whorl; lock; ringlet; curl

Hypernyms ("lock" is a kind of...):

hair (a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lock"):

sausage curl (a fat sausage-shaped curl)

forelock (a lock of hair growing (or falling) over the forehead)

crimp (a lock of hair that has been artificially waved or curled)

dreadlock (one of many long thin braids of hair radiating from the scalp; popularized by Rastafarians)

Holonyms ("lock" is a part of...):

coif; coiffure; hair style; hairdo; hairstyle (the arrangement of the hair (especially a woman's hair))

Sense 3

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lock" is a kind of...):

mechanism (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)

Holonyms ("lock" is a part of...):

firearm; piece; small-arm (a portable gun)

Sense 4

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Enclosure consisting of a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

lock chamber; lock

Hypernyms ("lock" is a kind of...):

enclosure (artifact consisting of a space that has been enclosed for some purpose)

Holonyms ("lock" is a part of...):

canal (long and narrow strip of water made for boats or for irrigation)

Sense 5

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the key

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

ignition lock; lock

Hypernyms ("lock" is a kind of...):

constraint; restraint (a device that retards something's motion)

Holonyms ("lock" is a part of...):

ignition switch (switch that operates a solenoid that closes a circuit to operate the starter)

Sense 6

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Any wrestling hold in which some part of the opponent's body is twisted or pressured

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("lock" is a kind of...):

wrestling hold (a hold used in the sport of wrestling)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lock"):

hammerlock (a wrestling hold in which the opponent's arm is twisted up behind his back)

headlock (a wrestling hold in which the opponent's head is locked between the crook of your elbow and the side of your body)

• LOCK (verb)

Sense 1

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Fasten with a lock

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

lock the bike to the fence

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lock"):

padlock (fasten with a padlock)

bolt (secure or lock with a bolt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

unlock (become unlocked)

unlock (open the lock of)

Also:

lock up (place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape)

lock up (secure by locking)

Sense 2

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Keep engaged

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

mesh; lock; operate; engage

Context example:

engaged the gears

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lock"):

flip; switch; throw (cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation)

ride (keep partially engaged by slightly depressing a pedal with the foot)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Become rigid or immoveable

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The therapist noticed that the patient's knees tended to lock in this exercise

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

engage (get caught)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

unlock (become unlocked)

Sense 4

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Hold in a locking position

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

interlace; interlock; lock

Context example:

He locked his hands around her neck

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

hold; take hold (have or hold in one's hands or grip)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 5

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Become engaged or intermeshed with one another

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

interlock; lock

Context example:

They were locked in embrace

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

bosom; embrace; hug; squeeze (squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 6

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Hold fast (in a certain state)

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

He was locked in a laughing fit

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

overcome; overpower; overtake; overwhelm; sweep over; whelm (overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 7

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

shut away; put away; lock away; lock in; lock up; shut up; lock

Context examples:

The parents locked her daughter up for the weekend / She locked her jewels in the safe

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

confine (prevent from leaving or from being removed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 8

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Pass by means through a lock in a waterway

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

go across; go through; pass (go across or through)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 9

lock [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Build locks in order to facilitate the navigation of vessels

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "lock" is one way to...):

build; construct; make (make by combining materials and parts)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s