n. 1 padlock, hasp, bolt, latch, bar, hook, clasp, catch Why put a lock on the door if there is nothing worth stealing inside? 2 hold; control, power, sway, authority, command, supervision The bureau has a complete lock on the issue of licences
v. 3 Often, lock up. padlock, bolt, latch, bar, secure, seal Lock the doors before leaving for the day 4 clasp, entangle, engage, join, entwine, close; clutch, grasp, grapple For six hours the knights were locked in battle 5 lock away. See lock up or away, below. 6 lock in. a secure, retain, fix, plant, implant, stabilize What does the maker mean by 'the flavour is locked in'? b commit, oblige, constrain, bind We are locked in to the promises we made to our employees c lock up or away, confine, restrain, coop up You'd better lock in the dogs before you leave 7 lock on. fix on or upon, track, follow, pursue, keep track of Our sights are locked on the target 8 lock out. exclude, shut out, close out, keep out, bar, debar During the strike, the management locked out all employees 9 lock up or away. confine, jail or Brit also gaol, imprison, coop up, incarcerate, detain, impound, put behind bars, restrict, cage They threatened to lock him up and throw away the key