lock

noun

a mechanical device furnished with a bolt and, usually, a spring, for fastening a door, strongbox, etc. by means of a key or combination
anything that fastens something else and prevents it from opening, turning, etc.
a locking together; jam
an enclosed part of a canal, waterway, etc. equipped with gates so that the level of the water can be changed to raise or lower boats from one level to another
the mechanism of a firearm used to explode the ammunition charge; gunlock
air lock (sense )
Slang a certainty; sure thing: our team is a lock to win the title
Wrestling a hold in which a part of the opponent's body is firmly gripped: armlock

transitive verb

to fasten (a door, trunk, etc.) by means of a lock
to keep from going in or out; shut (up, in or out); confine: locked in jail
to fit closely; link; intertwine: to lock arms
to embrace tightly
to jam or force together so as to make immovable: locked gears, locked brakes
to put in a fixed position: a throttle locked in the idle position
☆ to equip (a canal, etc.) with a lock or locks
to move or pass (a ship) through a lock
Printing to fasten (type elements) in a chase or on the bed of a press by means of quoins: often with up

intransitive verb

noun

See lock in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(lŏk)

noun

A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing.
A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section.
A mechanism in a firearm for exploding the charge.
An interlocking or entanglement of elements or parts.
a. Sports A hold in wrestling or self-defense that is secured on a part of an opponent's body.
b. A secure hold; control: The distributor has a lock on most of the market.
c. A sure thing; a certainty: His promotion is a lock.

verb locked, lock·ing, locks

verb, transitive

a. To fasten the lock of: close and lock a drawer.
b. To shut or make secure with or as if with locks: locked the house.
To confine or exclude by or as if by means of a lock: locked the dog in for the night; locked the criminal up in a cell.
To fix in place so that movement or escape is impossible; hold fast: The ship was locked in the ice through the winter. She felt that she had become locked into a binding agreement.
a. To sight and follow (a moving target) automatically: locked the enemy fighter in the gun sights.
b. To aim (a weapon or other device) at a moving target so as to follow it automatically: “The pilot had locked his targeting radar on the slow-moving frigate” (Ed Magnuson).
To engage and interlock securely so as to be immobile.
To clasp or link firmly; intertwine: locked arms and walked away.
To bind in close struggle or battle: The two dogs were locked in combat.
a. To equip (a waterway) with locks.
b. To pass (a vessel) through a lock.
Printing
a. To secure (letterpress type) in a chase or press bed by tightening the quoins.
b. To fasten (a curved plate) to the cylinder of a rotary press.
To invest (funds) in such a way that they cannot easily be converted into cash.
Computer Science
a. To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.
b. To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.

verb, intransitive

To become fastened by or as if by means of a lock: The door locks automatically when shut.
To become entangled; interlock.
To become rigid or immobile: The mechanism tends to lock in cold weather.
To pass through a lock or locks in a waterway.

Phrasal Verb: lock out To withhold work from (employees) during a labor dispute.

Related Forms: