verb | noun
locklock1 /lɑk/ ●●● S1 W2 verb 1FASTEN [intransitive, transitive] to fasten something using a key, or to be fastened using a key OPP unlock: Lock the door when you leave. I can’t get this drawer to lock.2IN A SAFE PLACE [transitive always + adv./prep.] to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid, etc., or to attach it to something using a lock: lock something in/to something Always lock valuables in the trunk of your car while shopping. We locked our bikes to the fence.3FIXED POSITION [intransitive, transitive] to become set in one position and impossible to move, or to set a wheel, a part of a machine, etc. in this way SYN lock up: The brakes locked and we skidded. Lock the brakes before you take him out of the stroller.4COMPUTERS [transitive] to prevent information on a computer from being changed or looked at by someone who is not allowed to change or look at it: These files have all been locked.5BODY PART [intransitive, transitive] to be held in one position and not move, or to make a body part do this: He locked his hands around my throat. Their eyes locked (=they stared at each other) for an instant.6be locked in an embrace if two people are locked in an embrace, they are holding each other very tightly7lock arms to join your arms tightly together with someone else by putting your arm through the bend in his or her arm: Fifty students locked arms to block the entrance to the building.8lock horns with somebody (over something) to argue, fight, or compete with someone—lockable adjectivelock away phrasal verb1lock something ↔ away to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid, etc.: He locked his money away in the safe.2lock somebody ↔ away to put someone in prison or an institution for people who are mentally ill3lock yourself away to keep yourself separate from other people by staying in your room, office, etc.lock in phrasal verb1lock somebody/something in (something) (also lock somebody/something inside (something)) to prevent a person or animal from entering a place by locking the door, a lid, etc.: Prisoners are only locked in at night. She locked herself inside her room.2lock 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.3be locked in something to be in a situation that continues for a long time and is hard to get out of: Some families are locked in a cycle of poverty.be locked in a battle/combat/dispute etc. The two firms have been locked in a legal battle for months.4lock something ↔ in to make the taste, liquid, etc. remain in something: This method of cooking locks in the meat’s flavor.lock somebody into something phrasal verb to make someone behave according to an agreement or promise without changing it: The company is locked into a three-year contract with PARCO.lock onto something phrasal verb if something such as a missile or satellite locks onto a target or signal, it finds it and follows it closelylock somebody ↔ out phrasal verb1to prevent someone from entering a place by locking the door: If you come home drunk again, I’ll lock you out.lock somebody/something out of something I accidentally locked myself out of the house.2if employers lock workers out, they do not let them enter their place of work until they accept the employers’ conditions for settling a disagreement → see also lockoutlock up phrasal verb1lock somebody ↔ up informal to put someone in prison or in a place that he or she cannot escape from: He was repeatedly locked up for drug dealing. They ought to lock him up and throw away the key (=put him in prison permanently)!2lock (something ↔) up to make a building safe by locking the doors, especially at night: I have to lock up and turn on the alarm before I go.3lock something ↔ up to put something in a safe place and lock the door, lid, etc., or to attach it to something using a lock: I have all my stuff locked up downstairs.4 if a wheel, a part of a machine, body part, etc. locks up, it becomes set in one position and impossible to move SYN lock: The steering wheel locked up and we drove into a ditch.5be 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 change it into cash verb | noun
locklock2 ●●● S3 W3 noun [countable] 1
ON A DOOR/CHAIN ETC. a thing that keeps a door, drawer, chain, etc. fastened or shut, and is usually opened with a key: the sound of a key in the lock a bike locklock on There’s no lock on the door. Kelly picked the lock on the desk drawer (=he used something such as a pin to open it).2ON A VEHICLE/MACHINE a piece of equipment on a vehicle, machine, etc., that prevents someone from moving, using, or stealing it: Put the lock on the stroller wheels before you put the baby in.3lock, stock, and barrel including every part of something: They sold everything lock, stock, and barrel.4under lock and key a)kept safely in something that is locked: All patient files are kept under lock and key. b)kept in a place such as a prison5HAIR a)a small number of hairs on your head that grow and hang together: a lock of hair b)locks [plural] poetic someone’s hair: long flowing locks6ON A RIVER a part of a canal or river that is closed off by gates on either end so that the water level can be increased or decreased to raise or lower boats7IN A FIGHT a hold that a wrestler uses to prevent their opponent from moving: a head lock8GUN the part of a gun that makes the bullet explode out of the gun9CONTROL complete control of someone or something that makes the result you want certain: Parker has a lock on the Republican nomination.