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Glite Dictionary
safety bolt

safety bolt

4.5
A metal bar on a door that you lock from inside to stop people entering
  • noun
translation icon : cerrojo de seguridad
  • The apartment is equipped with a safety bolt that can only be operated from the inside.

Examples

  • He slid the safety bolt into place, securing the garden gate against intruders.

  • Make sure to install a safety bolt on the door.

  • Make sure the safety bolt is locked before you go to bed.

  • The safety bolt provides extra security at night.

  • The old gate was secured with a safety bolt that kept intruders out.

  • Before leaving, she made sure the safety bolt was engaged on the door.

  • He installed a safety bolt on the shed to protect his tools from theft.

Synonyms

deadbolt
vssafety bolt
14 4.6

A strong metal bar that you move with a key or knob to lock a door

is fixed so it cannot be operated from outside for extra security
safety lock
vssafety bolt
2.8

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

has identical function but goes by a different name
slide bolt
vssafety bolt
5.1

A metal bar you move to lock a door or gate

is designed so it cannot be moved from outside, enhancing security
sliding bolt
vssafety bolt
4.2

A metal bar you slide to lock and unlock a door or gate

is meant to prevent outside operation rather than just manual locking

How Secure

deadbolt
14 4.6
safety bolt
4.5
padlock
18 2.2
latch
49 2.6

Surface Forms

safety bolt singular
safety bolts plural

Morphology

safety + bolt

The meaning is directly predictable from the constituents: 'safety' (security/protection) modifies 'bolt' (a locking bar), so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it as a bolt used for safety/security. This noun+noun compound follows a common compositional pattern found across languages, making the meaning transparent without prior exposure.

Etymology

Safety bolt comes from a simple picture: a metal bolt you slide across a door from the inside so it cannot be opened 'from outside'. That's why a safety bolt gives 'extra security' and is a lock you can only operate 'from inside'.