Did you know?
Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word
lock
- definition
What are red words?
90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing.These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are morefrequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.
Thesaurus
The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.
more
/lɒk/ 
| singular | lock |
| plural | locks |
- 1[countable] a part of a door, drawer, suitcase etc used for fastening it so that no one can open it. You usually open and close locks with a key, but if you pick a lock, you use something else to open it, often illegally
He slowly turned the key in the lock.
All the windows were fitted with locks.
- a.See also
central locking
phrases
have a lock on something
mainly Americanto have total control of something or understand it completelyBoth factions thought they had a lock on the latest trend.
a lock of hair
lock, stock, and barrel
under lock and key
This is the British English definition of lock. View American English definition of lock.
Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.
More submissions
view entriesBlog
A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.
global English and language change from our blog