“+ verb
Etymology: Middle English unlokken, from un- (II) + lokken to lock — more at lock
transitive verb
1. : to unfasten the lock of
unlocked the trunk of his car
2.
a. : to lay open by or as if by undoing a lock
struggle to unlock the lands held by a handful of squatters — Times Literary Supplement
b. : to gain or grant admission to
how to unlock one of the greatest of all mysteries — photosynthesis — Bruce Bliven b. 1889
reference books are the keys that quickly unlock the doors to … stored knowledge and golden wisdom — G.B.Shaw
3. : to cause to open : free from restraints or restrictions
the reaction to the shock unlocked a flood of emotions
4.
a. : to open by a physical action : spread apart
they unlocked their cramped fingers from the paddles — Bill Wolf
b. : to release from immovability
sheer anger finally unlocked his tongue and he shouted at the mob
5. : to furnish a key to
the three cipher men unlocked the whole letter — Fletcher Pratt
intransitive verb
: to become unfastened or freed from restraints