Deadlock Meaning
/ˈdɛdˌlɒk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA standstill resulting from the opposition of two evenly matched forces; a stalemate or impasse.
nounAn inability to continue due to two programs or devices each requiring a response from the other before completing an operation.
Sentence Examples
We must try to break the deadlock.
They have reached a deadlock.
Your ambitious character can save us from this deadlock.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The negotiations reached a ____ when neither side would compromise.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We must try to break the ____.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English dead Proto-Indo-European *lewg-der. Proto-Germanic *luką Proto-West Germanic *lok Old English loc Middle English lok English lock English deadlock From dead + lock.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"If synchronization is always performed in least-first order with respect to object tags, then situations can never arise in which one thread has the synchronization lock for x while waiting for y and another has the lock for y while waiting for x. Instead, they will both obtain the locks in the same order, thus avoiding this form of deadlock."
— 2000, Douglas Lea, Concurrent Programming in Java, Addison-Wesley Professional, →ISBN, page 88:
"A suspect was arrested on November 30 and charged with attempted murder. The evidence against him consisted of two jailhouse informers and an eyewitness who picked him out of a lineup after having identified a different man in an initial photo array. A jury ultimately convicted the suspect of assault after deadlocking twice in three days of deliberation."
— 2001, Bernard E. Harcourt, chapter 6, in Illusion of Order:
"Since we cannot solve this problem completely, it may sometimes be better to use explicit locks and risk deadlock if a thread exits unexpectedly. It may be better to have a deadlocked system than to have a corrupted system."
— 2004, Scott Oaks, Henry Wong, Java Threads, O'Reilly Media, →ISBN, page 123:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The negotiations reached a ____ when neither side would compromise.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We must try to break the ____.