a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed

a strand or cluster of hair

[ Syn: curl , ringlet , whorl ]

a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun

enclosure consisting of a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it

[ Syn: lock chamber ]

a restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the key

[ Syn: ignition lock ]

any wrestling hold in which some part of the opponent's body is twisted or pressured

fasten with a lock; lock the bike to the fence'

keep engaged; engaged the gears

[ Syn: engage , mesh , operate ]

become rigid or immoveable; The therapist noticed that the patient's knees tended to lock in this exercise'

hold in a locking position; He locked his hands around her neck

[ Syn: interlock , interlace ]

become engaged or intermeshed with one another; They were locked in embrace

[ Syn: interlock ]

hold fast (in a certain state); He was locked in a laughing fit'

place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape; The parents locked her daughter up for the weekend; She locked her jewels in the safe

[ Syn: lock in , lock away , put away , shut up , shut away , lock up ]

pass by means through a lock in a waterway

build locks in order to facilitate the navigation of vessels