locking
locking — verb
- lockingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- lockings3rd person singular
- lockinging-ing form
- lockingedpast simple
1. to close and secure a door, window, or container by turning a key or pushing a b
to close and secure a door, window, or container by turning a key or pushing a button so that it cannot be opened from the outside
Nora turned the key and locked the front door before going to bed.
lock + noun (door) for home security
Jack always locks his car doors as soon as he gets in.
This window does not lock properly, so we need to call a repair person.
The manager locked the office and gave the spare key to the security guard.
Min locked the suitcase and put the key in her coat pocket.
- unlock
to open a lock with a key or button
文法句型
lock + noun
lock + adverb
noun + does/does not + lock + adverb
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 focuses on the action of securing an entrance or container, while sense 2 focuses on placing something inside a locked space. Sense 1 is the only sense that can be used intransitively ('This door locks easily').
常見錯誤
2. to place something valuable inside a container, cupboard, or room and close the
to place something valuable inside a container, cupboard, or room and close the lock so that other people cannot take it
Before boarding the train, Saira locked her laptop and wallet in her suitcase.
lock + noun + in [container]
The night guard locks all the museum's gold artefacts in a steel vault every evening.
Femi locked his bicycle to the metal railing with a heavy chain.
We always lock the important documents in a fireproof safe at the office.
- secure
broader; can mean fixing firmly even without a lock (e.g. 'secure the rope')
- store away
focuses on putting aside for later; does not necessarily involve a lock
- take out
to remove something from where it was locked away
文法句型
lock + noun + in/on/to + noun phrase
用法筆記
The locked location is typically introduced by 'in' (lock in a safe/drawer/cabinet) or 'to' (lock to a rack/post). The object must be something portable that could be stolen.
常見錯誤
3. to become stuck in a particular position so that movement is not possible for a
to become stuck in a particular position so that movement is not possible for a short time
After running for an hour, Yumi's knees locked and she could not stand up.
body part + locks (knees, back, jaw)
The wheels of the old cart locked suddenly when the driver tried to turn.
Owen's back muscles locked as he lifted the heavy box from the floor.
The car's brakes locked on the wet road, and the vehicle slid forward.
文法句型
noun (body part / mechanism) + lock(s)
noun + locked + adverb
用法筆記
Usually describes a body part (knee, back, jaw) or a mechanical part (wheel, brake, gear). The subject is the part that becomes stuck, not a person. Frequently paired with 'up' in informal usage ('My back locked up').