LOCK | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English loc, of Germanic origin; related to German Loch ‘hole’

a mechanism for keeping a door, window, lid, or container fastened, typically operated by a key

mechanism for keeping something fastened

• the key turned firmly in the lock

a short section of a canal or river with gates and sluices at each end which can be opened or closed to change the water level, used for raising and lowering boats

gated section of canal or river

• there was a lock every quarter of a mile

the turning of the front wheels of a vehicle to change its direction of motion.

turning of front wheels of vehicle

a player in the second row of a scrum.

player in second row of scrum

a person or thing that is certain to succeed; a certainty

certainty

• all of this makes him a lock to make the Hall of Fame

a mechanism for exploding the charge of a gun.

mechanism for exploding charge of gun

fasten or secure (something) with a lock

fasten or secure with lock

• she closed and locked her desk

restrict access to the full functionality or data of (a computer, mobile phone, file, etc.), especially by requiring a user to verify their identity with a passcode or other form of authentication

restrict access to the full functionality of computer etc.

• my computer is locked and I've forgotten my login info
• I don't want people to read my emails—that's why I lock my phone

make or become rigidly fixed or immovable

make or become fixed or immovable

• he locked his hands behind her neck
• their gaze locked for several long moments

go through a lock on a canal

go through canal lock

• we locked through at Moore Haven