1
                    
      
              
        a
    
                                          
              
          
                                                      : an act or the process of passing something (as a boat) through a lock                                      
                
                    
            
      
              
        b
    
                                          
              
          
                                                      : something passed or passing through a lock                                      
                
                                
            especially                
          
                                                      : the quantity (as of logs) that can be locked at one time                                      
                          
            
   
                   
                      
                    2
                    
      
              
        
    
                                          
              
          
                                                      : the construction of a system of locks (as in a canal)                                      
                
                                
            also                
          
                                                      : a system of locks                                      
            
             
            
   
                   
                      
                    3
                    
      
              
        
    
                                          
              
          
                                                      : toll paid for passing through a lock or locks (as of a canal)                                      
                
                    
            
   
                   
                      
                    4
                    
      
              
        
    
                                          
              
          
                                                      : the vertical distance through which a boat is raised or lowered in passing through a lock or series of locks                                      
                
                                
            also                
          
                                                      : the volume of water involved in the process                                      
            
             
            
   
                   
             
                    
                        
        
        
        
                
                
                
        
                
     
    
                                                    
                                                                                                                    
            
                                    
                        
                                                    
                                
                       
                                        
                
                                                
                            
            
                                    
                                    
                        
                                            
                                                            
                                    
                                                                
                                
                                    
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                        
                                                    
                            
                                                               
                                                
  
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  Merriam-Webster unabridged
 
                          
                    
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