I. lock 1 S2 W3 /lɒk $ lɑːk/ BrE AmE verb
1 . FASTEN SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to fasten something, usually with a key, so that other people cannot open it, or to be fastened like this:
Did you lock the car?
I can’t get this drawer to lock.
2 . KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something in a place and fasten the door, lid etc with a key
lock something in something
Lock the cat in the kitchen.
3 . FIXED POSITION [intransitive and transitive] to become fixed in one position and impossible to move, or to make something become fixed:
The wheels suddenly locked.
lock something around/round something
He locked his hands around the younger man’s throat.
A moment later they were locked in an embrace (=holding each other very tightly in a loving or friendly way) .
Their eyes locked together (=they could not look away from each other) for an instant.
4 . FIXED SITUATION [transitive usually passive] if you are locked in a situation, you cannot get out of it
be locked in/into something
The two groups are locked in a vicious cycle of killing.
The company is locked into a five-year contract.
5 . be locked in battle/combat/dispute etc to be involved in a long, serious argument or fight with someone:
They are now locked in a bitter custody battle over the three children.
6 . lock arms if people lock arms, they join their arms tightly with the arms of the people on each side:
The police locked arms to form a barrier against the protesters.
7 . lock horns (with somebody) to argue or fight with someone:
The band have now locked horns with their record company over the album.
—lockable adjective
lock somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb
1 . to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc SYN lock up :
He locked his money away in the safe.
2 . to put someone in prison SYN lock up :
I hope they lock him away for years.
3 . lock yourself away to keep yourself separate from other people by staying in your room, office etc
lock in phrasal verb
1 . lock somebody in (something) to prevent someone from leaving a room or building by locking the door:
She locked herself in.
They locked the director in his office.
2 . lock something ↔ in to do something so that a price, offer, agreement etc cannot be changed:
Sell your stocks now to lock in some of the gains of recent months.
3 . lock something ↔ in to make the taste, liquid etc remain in something:
This method of cooking locks in the flavour of the meat.
lock onto something phrasal verb
if a ↑ missile or ↑ satellite locks onto a ↑ target or signal, it finds it and follows it closely
lock somebody ↔ out phrasal verb
1 . to keep someone out of a place by locking the door
lock somebody ↔ out of
I locked myself out of the house!
2 . if employers lock workers out, they do not let them enter their place of work until they accept the employers’ conditions for settling a disagreement
⇨ ↑ lockout
lock up phrasal verb
1 . to make a building safe by locking the doors, especially at night:
I’ll leave you to lock up.
lock something ↔ up
Don’t forget to lock up the warehouse.
2 . lock something ↔ up to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid etc SYN lock away
3 . lock somebody ↔ up to put someone in prison SYN lock away :
Rapists should be locked up.
4 . be locked up (in something) if your money is locked up, you have put it into a business, ↑ investment etc and cannot easily move it or use it
II. lock 2 S2 BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1-3, 5-9: Language: Old English ; Origin: loc ]
[ Sense 4: Language: Old English ; Origin: locc ]
1 . FASTENING [countable] a thing that keeps a door, drawer etc fastened and is usually opened with a key or by moving a small metal bar:
I’m sorry, there isn’t a lock on the bathroom door.
The key turned stiffly in the lock.
a bike lock
⇨ pick a lock at ↑ pick 1 (10)
2 . under lock and key
a) kept safely in a box, cupboard etc that is locked:
Dad keeps all his liquor under lock and key.
b) kept in a place such as a prison
3 . lock, stock, and barrel including every part of something:
He moved the whole company, lock, stock, and barrel, to Mexico.
4 . HAIR
a) [countable] a small number of hairs on your head that grow and hang together
lock of
He gently pushed a lock of hair from her eyes.
b) locks [plural] literary someone’s hair:
long flowing locks
5 . ON A RIVER ETC [countable] a part of a ↑ canal or river that is closed off by gates so that the water level can be raised or lowered to move boats up or down a slope
6 . IN A FIGHT [countable] a ↑ hold which ↑ wrestler s use to prevent their opponent from moving:
a head lock
7 . VEHICLE [uncountable and countable] British English the degree to which a vehicle’s front wheels can be turned in order to turn the vehicle
8 . RUGBY [countable] a playing position in the game of ↑ rugby
9 . a lock on something American English complete control of something:
Pro football still has a lock on male viewers aged 18 to 34.
⇨ ↑ air lock , ↑ combination lock