lock

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈläk 

1

a

: a fastening (as for a door) operated by a key or a combination

b

: the mechanism for exploding the charge or cartridge of a firearm

2

a

: an enclosure (as in a canal) with gates at each end used in raising or lowering boats as they pass from level to level

b

: air lock

3

a

: a locking or fastening together

b

: an intricate mass of objects impeding each other (as in a traffic jam)

c

: a hold in wrestling secured on one part of the body

broadly : a controlling hold

his paper … had a lock on a large part of the state

—John Corry

4

: one that is assured of success or favorable outcome

lock

2 of 4

verb (1)

locked; locking; locks

transitive verb

1

a

: to fasten the lock of

b

: to make fast with or as if with a lock

lock up the house

2

a

: to fasten in or out or to make secure or inaccessible by or as if by means of locks

locked himself away from the curious world

b

: to fix in a particular situation or method of operation

a team firmly locked in last place

3

a

: to make fast, motionless, or inflexible especially by the interlacing or interlocking of parts

lock wheels

lock a knee

b

: to hold in a close embrace

c

: to grapple in combat

also : to bind closely

administration and students were locked in conflict

4

: to invest (capital) without assurance of easy convertibility into money

5

: to move or permit to pass (something, such as a ship) by raising or lowering in a lock

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become locked

b

: to be capable of being locked

2

: interlace, interlock

3

: to go or pass by means of a lock (as in a canal)

lockable

ˈlä-kə-bəl 

adjective

lock

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a tuft, tress, or ringlet of hair

Marie … turned to pin up a lock of hair that had fallen on her neck.

—Willa Cather

b

locks plural : the hair of the head

… if your locks are lank, … skip the conditioner.

—Parenting

c(1)

often loc plural locs : a narrow ropelike strand of hair formed by matting, braiding, or twisting : dreadlock sense 1

According to Brooklyn stylist Derrick Scurry, there are several ways to save your dreadlock. For locks broken at the root, wait for hair to grow long enough to braid. Then have your stylist attach the lost lock to the braid with thread so you can't tell where the braid ends and where the lock begins.

—Essence

If palm rolling and twisting seem similar, it's because they are. But instead of twisting with your fingers to create a loc, you roll the section of hair between your palms, a technique that helps give more control over the size and shape of the loc.

—Sami Roberts

(2)

locs or locks plural : a hairstyle consisting of locks : dreadlocks

Dreadlocks, dreads, locks, locs—whatever your term of choice for them may be …

—Taylor Bryant

Some people simply stop combing through their hair in order to form "freeform" locs, which tend to vary greatly in size. Many others prefer a more cultivated look, with neat, even partings throughout, and a uniform size to each unit.

—Del Sandeen

The CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, which was introduced by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), prohibits denying employment or educational opportunities to a person based on their hairstyle or texture. The law includes styles such as locs, cornrows, … and Afros.

—Angela Johnson

For Michael Calhoun of DeKalb, his locks are more than just a hairstyle. "It's a way of life," he said. Calhoun … said the preferred term for his chosen style the past decade isn't dreadlocks, it's "locks" because dread carries a negative connotation.

—Katie Finlon

2

: a cohering bunch (as of wool, cotton, or flax) : tuft

lock

4 of 4

verb (2)

variant spelling of loc entry 2

transitive + intransitive

: to form into dreadlocks

Let's face it: The process of waiting for your hair to loc can be both lengthy and frustrating.

—Del Sandeen

You can choose to let the hair loc and then separate it. But you can also part the hair in advance to divide it into distinct sections.

—Matt Sailor and Yves Jeffcoat

Chris Gilliam, 37, a 14-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department who began wearing locks last fall, was drawn to the style's symbolism. "If left to its own devices, our hair will lock. People, left to our own devices, maybe we will come together too," he says.

—David France et al.

… they use either braiding hair loc'd with your own hair or faux locs wrapped around your own hair.

—Sami Roberts

Deciding to lock your hair is a huge decision, not to mention permanent one.

—LaParis Hawkins

Phrases

lock horns

: to come into conflict

lock on or lock onto

: to acquire (something, such as a target or signal) automatically using a sensor (such as radar)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• certainty
• slam dunk
• lead-pipe cinch
• sure thing
• cinch

Examples of lock in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the governor is regarded as a lock for his party's presidential nomination

Verb (1)

They locked the door when they left and unlocked it when they returned.

She locked the bicycle to the railing with a chain.

He forgot to lock the car.

The car locks automatically when you start the engine.

The wheels locked and the car skidded off the road.

They were locked in each other's arms.

She locked her hands around the steering wheel.

The file is locked for editing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

More large increases are already locked in for the next two seasons. —Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

With new media deals already locked in, the league is riding the momentum into expansion despite the potential labor fight, which could create a possible work stoppage if a new accord isn’t agreed upon by the end of October. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025

Noun

Camila Alves McConaughey waved her dark locks from the roots to the tips, while Bb Trickz added inches to her ends with extensions. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 June 2025

Rose doesn't have the restraint of a neurotypical 9-year-old, so chemicals and electronics are kept behind three levels of locks. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English lok, from Old English loc; akin to Old High German loh enclosure and perhaps to Old English locc lock of hair

Noun (2)

Middle English lok, from Old English locc; akin to Old High German loc lock, Greek lygos withe, Latin luxus dislocated

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lock

• air lock
• caps lock
• combination lock
• have a lock on
• lip-lock
• lock away
• lock-in
• lock one's knee
• lock out
• lock screen
• lock, stock, and barrel
• mortise lock
• on full lock
• pick a lock
• scalp lock
• time lock
• under lock and key
• vapor lock
• wheel lock

Rhymes for lock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

lock

1 of 3 noun

ˈläk 

1

: a small bunch of hair or fiber (as cotton or wool)

2

plural : the hair of the head

lock

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a fastening (as for a door) in which a bolt is operated (as by a key)

b

: a device for exploding the charge or cartridge of a firearm

2

: an enclosure (as in a canal) with gates at each end used in raising or lowering boats as they pass from level to level

3

: a wrestling hold that prevents any movement of the part of the body that is being held

a leg lock

lock

3 of 3 verb

1

: to fasten with or as if with a lock

lock up the house

the door locks from the inside

2

a

: to shut in or out or make secure by or as if by means of a lock

locked up my bike

locked in jail

b

: to make or become fast or motionless

pump the brake pedal to keep the wheels from locking

3

: to make fast by the linking of parts together

lock arms

Etymology

Noun

Old English locc "small bunch of hair"

Noun

Old English loc "fastener"