From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlocklock1 /lɒk $ lɑːk/ ●●● S2 W3 verb 1 fasten something [intransitive, transitive]SHUT/CLOSE to fasten something, usually with a key, so that other people cannot open it, or to be fastened like this Did you lock the car? I can’t get this drawer to lock.2 keep in a safe place [transitive always + adverb/preposition]SHUT/CLOSE to put something in a place and fasten the door, lid etc with a keylock something in something Lock the cat in the kitchen.3 fixed position [intransitive, transitive]TTC to become fixed in one position and impossible to move, or to make something become fixed The wheels suddenly locked.lock something around/round something He locked his hands around the younger man’s throat. A moment later they were locked in an embrace (=holding each other very tightly in a loving or friendly way). Their eyes locked together (=they could not look away from each other) for an instant.4 fixed situation [transitive] if you are locked in a situation, you cannot get out of itbe locked in/into something The two groups are locked in a vicious cycle of killing. The company is locked into a five-year contract.Grammar Lock is usually passive in this meaning.5 → be locked in battle/combat/dispute etc6 → lock arms7 → lock horns (with somebody) —lockable adjective → lock somebody/something ↔ away → lock in → lock onto something → lock somebody ↔ out → lock up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
lock• She was just chewing her dinner and her jaw locked.• She went over and tried one of the handles, but the cabinet was locked.• Once he had forgotten to lock Mr Corcoran's office and had been harshly reprimanded.• Lock the brakes before you take him out of the stroller.• Don't forget to lock the car.• The colored aide and the blond one took me downstairs and let me on to our ward and locked the door behind me.• Lock the door when you leave.• Wu panicked and locked the door.• As she left the house she locked the door.• As I said it, I jumped back in the bathroom and locked the door.• He locked the safe and put the key in his pocket.• That's what Lee had gone home to check, that Caspar was locked up.locked in an embrace• And when that happens, you will surely see Switzer and Jones locked in an embrace.• Simultaneously they turned to face one another and a moment later they were locked in an embrace.• Ljungberg falls in the box with Babayaro locked in an embrace from behind.be locked in/into something• We were locked in a grid four lanes wide.• Read in studio Voice over Two schools for children with special needs are locked in an argument over whether or not they should merge.• The implication is that scanning systems should not be locked into continuous data on limited sectors of the environment ...• In reality, the females are locked in fierce and intense competition.• At Motown, electric guitars, sometimes as many as four, were locked in intricate patterns.• The Ballet and the cavernous, gilt-trimmed Wang are locked in symbiotic, occasionally contentious embrace.• However, some critics have expressed doubts over whether future governments can be locked into the promises.• More often, Washington and Pretoria are locked in warm embrace. ldoce_205_glocklock2 ●●● S2 noun 1 fastening [countable]D a thing that keeps a door, drawer etc fastened and is usually opened with a key or by moving a small metal bar I’m sorry, there isn’t a lock on the bathroom door. The key turned stiffly in the lock. a bike lock → pick a lock at pick1(10)2 → under lock and key3 → lock, stock, and barrel4 hair a) [countable]DCB a small number of hairs on your head that grow and hang togetherlock of He gently pushed a lock of hair from her eyes. b) locks [plural] literaryDCB someone’s hair long flowing locks5 on a river etc [countable]TTW a part of a canal or river that is closed off by gates so that the water level can be raised or lowered to move boats up or down a slope6 in a fight [countable]DSO a hold which wrestlers use to prevent their opponent from moving a head lock7 vehicle [countable, uncountable] British EnglishTTC the degree to which a vehicle’s front wheels can be turned in order to turn the vehicle8 rugby [countable] a playing position in the game of rugby9 → a lock on something → air lock, combination lockExamples from the Corpus
lock• She kept a lock of his baby hair in a book.• Equipment was stolen from a construction site entered by cutting a front-door lock.• That explains why there are no locks on the lockers in the hall.• There's no lock on the door.• Two types of locks had been developed by the Romans: the tumbler lock, and the lever lock.• Open up - watch the hard rasp as the key slides into the lock - and step inside.• The lock snapped and the detective levered up the bottom section.• The locks were closed again, the process ended, insipid Vadinamian refreshments were served in the visitors gallery.From Longman Business Dictionarylocklock1 /lɒklɑːk/ verb1[transitive] lock horns (with somebody) if two people or organizations lock horns, they start being involved in a serious disagreement or struggle with each otherMr. Lorenzo locked horns with union representatives in his efforts to turn around the struggling business.2be locked in a battle/struggle/dispute etc (with somebody) if two people or organizations are locked in a battle, they are involved in a serious disagreement or struggle against each otherThe two networks are locked in a close ratings battle.The unions are locked in difficult negotiations with the company. → lock something → away → lock in → lock into something → lock out → lock something → up→ See Verb tablelocklock2 noun1have a lock on something to have complete control of somethingThe firm now has an 85% lock on the market.Between them the two airlines have a virtual lock on domestic air traffic.2put a lock on something to limit or control somethingThese currency controls put a lock on Pakistan’s dealings with the larger world.Origin lock2 1. Old English loc2. Old English locc 