Pronunciation

/lɒk/

Definitions

• Noun (n): A device that secures something, typically a door or container, by preventing it from being opened without a key or combination. Example: “She put the necklace in the safe and turned the lock.”
• Verb (v): To fasten or secure something with a lock so that it cannot be easily opened. Example: “I always lock my car when I leave it in the parking lot.”
• Verb (v): To become fixed or immovable due to mechanical jamming or obstruction. Example: “The door had swollen and wouldn’t lock properly.”
• Verb (v): To fix someone’s gaze or attention onto something. Example: “She locked her eyes on the stage during the performance.”
• Verb (v): In computing, to make data inaccessible or unmodifiable until a certain condition is met, often for security purposes. Example: “The user can lock their account to prevent unauthorized access.”

Phrases

• “Lock and key”: The traditional mechanism for securing things, referring to both parts needed to operate a lock.
• “Lock down”: To secure or confine someone or something tightly and restrict movement or access, often used in situations like prison lockdowns or COVID-19 lockdowns.
• “Lock horns”: To engage in a heated argument or conflict.
• “Lock, stock, and barrel”: Completely, entirely; every part of something.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “I lost the key to the padlock on my storage unit.”
• Verb: “Don’t forget to lock the front door before you go to bed.”
• Verb (attention): “The children were mesmerized; they locked their attention on the magician’s every move.”
• Computing Verb: “He decided to lock his files to ensure they couldn’t be edited while he was away from his desk.”

Synonyms

• Bolt
• Fasten
• Secure
• Seal
• Latch
• Engage (in the context of locking mechanisms)
• Freeze (in the context of computer functions)