lock

CEFRA2

/lɒk/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A device that keeps a door or container closed.

  2. 02

    verb

    To fasten something so it cannot be opened or moved.

Examples

  • She turned the key in the lock.

  • I forgot to lock the drawer.

At a glance

Sits at A2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A mutex or other token restricting access to a resource.

  2. A segment of a canal or other navigable waterway enclosed by gates, used for raising and lowering boats between levels.

  3. Something used for fastening, which can only be opened with a key or combination.

More examples

In context

  • They forgot to lock the door.

  • If you put the brakes on too hard, the wheels will lock.

  • Remember to lock the door when you leave.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Please blank the door before you leave to keep the house safe.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English lok, from Old English loc, from Proto-West Germanic *lok, from Proto-Germanic *luką from Proto-Indo-European *lewg- (“to bend; turn”). Cognate with Cimbrian loch, lòch (“hole”), Dutch lok (“hole”), German Loch (“hole”), German Low German Lock (“hole”), Luxembourgish Lach (“hole”), Vilamovian łöch (“hole”), Yiddish לאָך (lokh, “hole”), Danish låg (“lid, cover”), Norwegian Bokmål lokk (“lid, cover”), Norwegian Nynorsk lok, lokk (“lid, cover”). more detail The verb is from Middle English locken, lokken, louken, from Old English lūcan, Proto-West Germanic *lūkan, from Proto-Germanic *lūkaną. Cognate with Dutch luiken (“to close, to shut”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål lukke (“to...