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deadbolt

deadbolt

14 4.6
A strong metal bar that you move with a key or knob to lock a door
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛdˌboʊlt/
translation icon : cerrojo
  • Natalie turned the deadbolt and blinked at the brilliant sunlight outside.
  • deadbolt lock
  • doors with deadbolt
  • deadbolt key

And she's like, the deadbolt is stuck.

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Examples

  • Nana Dand unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "You've got a good deadbolt on your back door," he said.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • We need to fix that deadbolt.

  • Since the door was locked and the deadbolt turned, police concluded that the killer had a key.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • It's a single cylinder deadbolt, Claire.

  • I actually really love my keypad deadbolt that I use.

  • John spent the day drilling and filing until he had installed deadbolts on the front and back doors.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Every night before he went to bed, John checked all the locks and deadbolts.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Helen locked the doors of the house with deadbolts and pocketed the key.

  • I waited a minute until I heard a deadbolt turn, and then the door opened slowly.

Synonyms

lock
vsdeadbolt
523 1.0

A device that holds doors or containers closed with a key

is a strong bar moved by turning key or knob rather than any device
bolt
vsdeadbolt
61 4.4

A metal bar that slides into a door or window to lock it

is a thicker stronger bar moved by turning key or knob to secure doors
safety bolt
vsdeadbolt
4.5

A metal bar on a door that you lock from inside to stop people entering

is moved by turning key or knob rather than fixed for outside protection
safety lock
vsdeadbolt
2.8

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

is a bar moved by turning key or knob, not a general blocking mechanism
sliding bolt
vsdeadbolt
4.2

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

is moved by turning a key or knob rather than slid by hand
slide bolt
vsdeadbolt
5.1

A metal bar you move to lock a door or gate

is moved by turning a key or knob rather than slid by hand
doorlock
vsdeadbolt
1.8

A thing on a door that stops people from opening it unless they have a key or code

is a bar moved by turning key or knob rather than full fitted device

How Secure

deadbolt
14 4.6
to lock
1.0
latch
49 2.6

Surface Forms

deadbolt singular
deadbolts plural

Morphology

deadbolt = dead + bolt (transparent) = dead + bolt

Formed from the clear words 'dead' (immobile/not moving) and 'bolt' (a metal sliding bar), so the meaning is directly inferable.

Etymology

A deadbolt is made of two simple words: dead, meaning 'not moving' or 'fixed', and bolt, meaning a 'metal bar'. So a deadbolt is a bar that stays firmly in place to make a door very secure.