lock

1 of 3

noun (1)

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

2 of 3

noun (2)

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
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

3 of 3

verb

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
3
: to go or pass by means of a lock (as in a canal)
lockable adjective
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)

Examples of lock in a Sentence

Verb 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
Noun
And the network changed the locks at the Nickelodeon on Sunset facility, where Schneider ran his empire. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 The lock to the gate was cut, and electronics and other items were taken from the garage of a residence under construction. Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Reviews said the lock is easy to install and the product is worth its price. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 With her height, athletic frame and spot-on fashion sense, the five-time Grand Slam champion can really pull off the darker locks, in our humble opinion. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Behind the counter, a cool Margo Moon is taking orders clad in a hoodie, a pair of shades and a backwards cap that covers a shoulder-grazing head of locks the color of honey. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 The pair rolled out all the clichés that Airbnb guests have experienced, from hard-to-operate locks to bland words used as artwork on walls. Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024 The way the click of the lock echoed in the room was wrong. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 According to court documents, after knocking and announcing their presence, officers used a drill to remove locks from the door. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
The demand for premium local content to lure African subscribers has sparked an arms race among the market’s two strongest rivals to lock down the continent’s top talents. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 President Biden and Donald Trump will have virtually locked up their nominations, a November face-off that inspires hardly anyone. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 The public charging stations, equipped with swappable battery systems and locking charging racks, were reviewed by the New York City Fire Department during development and installation, the city said. Mia Sato, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024 In the game of one-upmanship, where brands lock in stars to exclusively attend their shows, Jonathan Anderson’s team consistently pulls it out of the bag by scoring nostalgic yet contemporary lineups that cause even the most hardened editors to crane their necks iPhones. Alice Newbold, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 At the time, Quintana-Lujan told police that his steering wheel had locked. Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 29 Feb. 2024 Very many institutions of higher education have their eyes locked on short term, career-rich programs – especially when those programs are closely stitched to hiring leaders in industry. Derek Newton, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Low-level technologies such as biochar—created by burning wood in very low oxygen—alongside basal rocks, which absorb CO2 over thousands of years, make good fertilizer that locks carbon in. Stephen Armstrong, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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

Verb

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lock was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lock

Cite this Entry

“Lock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lock. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lock

1 of 3 noun
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on lock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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