Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense padlocks, present participle padlocking, past tense, past participle padlocked
1. countable noun
A padlock is a lock which is used for fastening two things together. It consists of a block of metal with a U-shaped bar attached to it. One end of the bar is released by turning a key in the lock.
They had put a padlock on the door of his flat.
Synonyms: lock, fastening, clasp More Synonyms of padlock
2. verb
If you padlock something, you lock it or fasten it to something else using a padlock.
Eddie parked his cycle against a lamp post and padlocked it. [VERB noun]
An old mailbox has been padlocked shut. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB noun + to]
Synonyms: secure, lock, chain, bolt More Synonyms of padlock
padlock in British English
(ˈpædˌlɒk)
noun
1.
a detachable lock having a hinged or sliding shackle, which can be used to secure a door, lid, etc, by passing the shackle through rings or staples
verb
2. (transitive)
to fasten with or as if with a padlock
Word origin
C15 pad, of obscure origin
padlock in American English
(ˈpædˌlɑk)
noun
1.
a removable lock with a hinged or pivoting link to be passed through a staple, chain, or eye
verb transitive
2.
to fasten with or as with a padlock
3.
to close (a building) against entrance
Word origin
ME padlocke < pad (< ?) + lokke, lock1
Examples of 'padlock' in a sentence
padlock
They trained their weapons on him as he turned his key in the padlock.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Check there is a locked padlock unbroken key in the bottom of your browser window accessing bank websites.
The Sun (2008)
We moved to our big compound and there was a padlock on the door so we blew the door off.
The Sun (2009)
Look for the padlock or unbroken key in the bottom of your browser window to check youare using a secure website.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Its giant padlock would have secured the Bastille.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
ALWAYS losing the key for your padlock or forgetting the code?
The Sun (2016)
A padlock icon displayed at the bottom of your computer screen is another indication that it is protected.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Before entering card details, make sure that the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol is showing in your browser.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Mr Lock gave the woman the padlock key and told her to leave after she refused to get into his bed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
One'cruel' man put a padlock on her fridge.
The Sun (2009)
When Lock gave the woman the key to her padlock, she left and walked to a nearby bus stop.
The Sun (2013)
Think no-frills wooden huts on stilts on the sand, complete with hammocks and mosquito nets and secured with a padlock.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It puts them quickly on the offensive, but always with the padlock secure at the back and Portsmouth found them unplayable.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A padlock used to secure it was discovered by police fixed to the WRONG post.
The Sun (2006)
In other languages
padlock
British English: padlock /ˈpædˌlɒk/ NOUN
A padlock is a lock which is used for fastening two things together.
They had put a padlock on the door.
American English: padlock
Arabic: قِفْلٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: cadeado
Chinese: 挂锁
Croatian: lokot
Czech: visací zámek
Danish: hængelås
Dutch: hangslot
European Spanish: candado
Finnish: munalukko
French: cadenas
German: Vorhängeschloss
Greek: λουκέτο
Italian: lucchetto
Japanese: 南京錠
Korean: 맹꽁이 자물쇠
Norwegian: hengelås
Polish: kłódka
European Portuguese: cadeado
Romanian: lacăt
Russian: висячий замок
Latin American Spanish: candado
Swedish: hänglås
Thai: กุญแจแบบคล้องสายยู
Turkish: asma kilit
Ukrainian: (висячий) замок
Vietnamese: khóa móc
British English: padlock VERB
If you padlock something, you lock it or fasten it to something else using a padlock.
He parked his bicycle against a lamppost and padlocked it.
American English: padlock
Brazilian Portuguese: fechar com cadeado
Chinese: 用挂锁锁上
European Spanish: cerrar con candado
French: cadenasser
German: mit einem Vorhängeschloss verschließen
Italian: chiudere con il lucchetto
Japanese: 南京錠をかける
Korean: 맹꽁이 자물쇠로 잠그다
European Portuguese: fechar com cadeado
Latin American Spanish: cerrar con candado
Chinese translation of 'padlock'
padlock
(ˈpædlɔk)
n(c)
挂(掛)锁(鎖) (guàsuǒ) (个(個), gè)
vt
锁(鎖)上 (suǒshàng)
(noun)
Definition
a detachable lock with a hinged hoop fastened through a ring on the object to be secured
They had put a padlock on the door of his flat.
Synonyms
lock
He heard her key turning in the lock.
fastening
His fingers found the fastening and opened it.
clasp
She undid the clasp of the hooded cloak she was wearing.
(verb)
Definition
to fasten (something) with a padlock
The mailbox has been padlocked shut.
Synonyms
secure
With a discreet click he secured the lock.
lock
Are you sure you locked the front door?
chain
bolt
He reminded her to lock and bolt the kitchen door behind her.
lock up
fasten
He fastened the door behind him.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bolt
Definition
to secure or lock with or as if with a bolt
He reminded her to lock and bolt the kitchen door behind her.
Synonyms
lock,
close,
bar,
secure,
fasten,
latch
in the sense of clasp
Definition
a fastening, such as a catch or hook, for holding things together
She undid the clasp of the hooded cloak she was wearing.
Synonyms
fastening,
catch,
grip,
hook,
snap,
pin,
clip,
buckle,
brooch,
fastener,
hasp,
press stud
in the sense of fasten
Definition
to close by fixing firmly in place or locking
He fastened the door behind him.
Synonyms
secure,
close,
lock,
chain,
seal,
bolt,
do up
Nearby words of
padlock
paddle
paddock
paddy
padlock
padre
paean
pagan
Synonyms of 'padlock'
padlock
Explore 'padlock' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fastening
Definition
something that fastens something, such as a clasp or lock