🧵 A sewing machine 🧵 To sew edges 🪡 A seam finish

overlock

1 7.8

A sewing machine that trims and sews fabric edges to stop them coming apart

noun
/ˈoʊvərˌlɑk/

: overlock

Many tailors prefer using an overlock for its efficiency in creating durable hems.

Examples

This is an overlock, which makes hems.

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
An overlock machine is essential for finishing seams and preventing fabric from fraying.
This is another overlock machine.

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Usually most industrial overlocks are pretty similar to each other.
She used the overlock to neatly trim the edges of the fabric before sewing.

Synonyms

serger

vsoverlock

Specialized

1 8.4

A sewing machine that trims and finishes fabric edges to stop them fraying

is the same machine but called by another name

overlocker

vsoverlock

7.5

A sewing machine that trims and sews fabric edges to stop fraying

uses trimming and sewing over the edge rather than binding

Surface Forms

overlock singular

overlocks plural

Morphology

overlock = lock (semi-transparent) = over + lock

The form is built from the clear elements 'over' and 'lock', but the sewing-machine sense is a specialized technical meaning that is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Overlock comes from the parts over- 'on top' and lock 'to fasten', like a door lock, and it was used for a machine that works on the cloth edge. An overlock machine sews over the edge to 'lock' the threads in place and stop the fabric from fraying.