🔒 To secure 🔒 A security device 🦵 To become rigid 💇 A hair curl 🚢 To use a water gate 🚢 A water gate 🤼 A wrestling hold

lock

27 5.5

A part of a canal with gates that raises or lowers boats between different water levels

noun
/lɑk/

Specialized

: esclusa

The ride through the locks at Sault Ste. Marie is well worth the time.
canal lock
locks and dams
system of locks

So right now we're at the boat lock and those giant gates behind me.

Examples

The captain skillfully guided the vessel into the lock to pass through to the upper canal.
The boat patiently waited as it entered the lock to adjust to the higher water level.
We're through the first lock.

Play Dirty (2025)
So right now we're at the boat lock and those giant gates behind me.

Jiggin' With Jordan
The string of bungalows near the lock slowly crept behind as we paddled gently upriver through the sunshine.

Academic text (1997)
"Pools" are delimited by locks and dams and named for the sequential number of the downstream lock and dam.

Academic text (2016)
As we approached the lock, I could see the massive gates ready to close behind us.

Synonyms

lock chamber

vslock

Specialized

5.8

A part of a canal with gates that raises or lowers boats by changing the water level

emphasizes passage between stretches at different water levels

Idioms

under lock and key

16 3.0

Kept in a locked place so people cannot take it

to lock horns

Informal

5 5.1

To argue strongly with someone about something

to lock him up and throw away the key

Informal

2 9.5

Put someone in prison and never let them out

to lock up and toss the key

Informal

9.3

Put someone in prison and never let them leave

Compounds

air lock

Specialized

5 5.6

A chamber that lets people move between places with different air pressure while preventing air mixing

combination lock

5 2.8

A device that opens only when you enter the right numbers

Caps Lock

2 2.6

A key on a keyboard that makes all typed letters capital until turned off

safety lock

2 3.5

A device on a gun that stops it from firing by accident

vapor lock

Specialized

1 7.4

A stop in the fuel moving to a car engine because heat makes gas bubbles

window lock

1 2.3

A small device attached to a window that keeps it closed and stops people opening it

cylinder lock

3.5

A device with a round key part that opens a door when the right key turns it

lever lock

Specialized

6.7

A device that keeps a door or safe closed until someone lifts the levers to the right heights

lock chamber

Specialized

5.8

A part of a canal with gates that raises or lowers boats by changing the water level

lock ring

Specialized

5.8

A small round ring that keeps a nut from coming loose

lock washer

Specialized

5.1

A small metal ring that stops a nut from coming loose

lock-gate

Specialized

4.9

A gate that opens and closes to let boats pass and control water in a canal

lock-up option

Formal

9.5

A right for a friendly investor to buy key assets before others to stop a takeover

love-lock

8.4

A padlock attached to a place like a bridge by a couple to show their lasting love

heart-shaped love-lock

6.0

A small metal lock shaped like a heart that couples attach to bridges

ignition lock

Specialized

5.1

A part in a car that stops the engine from starting without the right key

safety lock

2.8

A lock on a door that keeps people from opening it from outside

sash lock

Specialized

6.2

A small lock on a window with two moving panels that keeps them closed

scalp lock

9.9

A long piece of hair left on top of a shaved head, worn in some Indigenous North American cultures

wheel lock

Archaic

9.9

A gun device with a rotating wheel that makes sparks to light powder

How Big

lockage

Specialized

9.5

lock

Specialized

27 5.5

Surface Forms

lock singular

locks plural

Etymology

Lock on a canal takes its name from the same idea of 'closing' water off with gates, from the old root loc meaning 'to close'. So a canal 'lock' is a gated space you fill or empty to raise or lower boats between different water levels.