n. a restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the key

n. the process of initiating combustion or catching fire

n. any wrestling hold in which some part of the opponent's body is twisted or pressured

n. a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed

n. a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun

n. the act of making a file or other piece of data inaccessible

n. the mechanism that ignites the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

n. enclosure consisting of a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it

n. the act of setting something on fire

n. a strand or cluster of hair

v. hold fast (in a certain state); "He was locked in a laughing fit"

v. change the attributes of a file in order to make the information inaccessible

v. fasten with a lock; "lock the bike to the fence"

v. become engaged or intermeshed with one another; "They were locked in embrace"

v. become rigid or immoveable; "The therapist noticed that the patient's knees tended to lock in this exercise"

v. keep engaged; "engaged the gears"

v. hold in a locking position; "He locked his hands around her neck"

n. the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold on the railing"

n. a catch for locking a door

n. catch for fastening a door or gate; a bar that can be lowered or slid into a groove

n. a device (generally used by carpenters) that holds things firmly together

n. an obstruction in a pipe or tube; "we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe"

n. a fastener for a door or lid; a hinged metal strap fits over a staple and is locked with a pin or padlock

n. regulator consisting of a valve or gate that controls the rate of water flow through a sluice

n. regulator consisting of a valve or gate that controls the rate of water flow through a sluice

n. line consisting of a complex of fibers or filaments that are twisted together to form a thread or a rope or a cable

n. a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

n. a very slender natural or synthetic fiber

v. move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut; "Close the door"; "shut the window"

v. connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces; "Can you connect the two loudspeakers?"; "Tie the ropes together"; "Link arms"

v. mix together different elements; "The colors blend well"

v. join the ends of

v. become one; "Germany unified officially in 1990"; "Will the two Koreas unify?"

v. make contact or come together; "The two roads join here"

v. link with or as with a yoke; "yoke the oxen together"

v. take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority; "The FBI seized the drugs"; "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"; "The police confiscated the stolen artwork"

v. lock up or confine, in or as in a jail; "The suspects were imprisoned without trial"; "the murderer was incarcerated for the rest of his life"

v. make lacework by knotting or looping

v. make a loop in; "loop a rope"

v. hold firmly and tightly

v. cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch; "Turn off the stereo, please"; "cut the engine"; "turn out the lights"

v. attract and fix; "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter"

v. express the need or desire for; ask for; "She requested an extra bed in her room"; "She called for room service"

v. put into service; make work or employ (something) for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose; "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?"; "I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a computer"

v. remove surgically; "amputate limbs"

v. to come or go into; "the boat entered an area of shallow marshes"

v. cause to leave; "The teacher took the children out of the classroom"

v. shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes; "He removed his children to the countryside"; "Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city"; "remove a case to another court"

v. lift and reset in another soil or situation; "Transplant the young rice plants"

v. place the organ of a donor into the body of a recipient

v. put into commission; equip for service; of ships

v. enter into a contractual arrangement

v. hire for work or assistance; "engage aid, help, services, or support"

v. hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services

v. secure by locking; "lock up the house before you go on vacation"

v. undo the locking of a file in order to make the information accessible again

v. open the lock of; "unlock the door"

v. become unlocked; "The door unlocked from the inside"

v. release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles; "I want to disengage myself from his influence"; "disengage the gears"

v. release, as from one's grip; "Let go of the door handle, please!"; "relinquish your grip on the rope--you won't fall"

v. release, as from one's grip; "Let go of the door handle, please!"; "relinquish your grip on the rope--you won't fall"