cylinder lock

3.5

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

noun
/ˈsɪlɪndər lɑk/

: cerradura de cilindro

To access the storage room, you need to turn the key in the cylinder lock to release the bolt.

Examples

The new apartment has a secure cylinder lock on the door.
Most apartment buildings use cylinder locks because they're easy to rekey.
He lost the key to his cylinder lock and had to call a locksmith.
The front door was secured with a new cylinder lock for added security.
Can you install a cylinder lock for me?
The hotel uses a cylinder lock on every room door to ensure guest security.
She replaced the old door handle with a new cylinder lock for improved safety.

Synonyms

lock

vscylinder lock

523 1.0

A device that holds doors or containers closed with a key

is a specific type that uses a rotating tube aligning pins to move a bolt

How Secure

deadbolt

14 4.6

cylinder lock

3.5

keylock

3.5

doorlock

1.8

latch

49 2.6

Surface Forms

cylinder lock singular

cylinder locks plural

Morphology

cylinder + lock

The compound is directly compositional: a 'cylinder lock' is a type of lock that uses a cylinder mechanism, so a learner who knows 'cylinder' and 'lock' can infer it is a lock involving a cylinder. The noun+noun composition is a common, cross‑linguistic pattern and conveys the basic meaning even if the detailed mechanism (pins, rotation) is technical.

Etymology

Cylinder lock gets its name from the small round cylinder inside the lock that must turn to let the door open. The correct key lifts tiny metal pins so the cylinder can turn and move the bolt, so the lock is 'unlocked' only with the right key.