Locked in definition: exhibiting total concentration on the task in hand | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples by the operation of a lock or locks.to shut in a place fastened by a lock or locks, as for security or restraint.to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining: to move (a ship) by means of a lock or locks, as in a canal (often followed by to go or pass by means of a lock or locks, as a vessel.to lock in the nomination of the party's candidates. Only the two in the relationship has the key. All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Or something more sinister, like Hannibal Lecter?
Or a bracing dip at the lido followed by post-immersion goose pimples making it feel especially wonderful to be alive. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.any device or part for stopping temporarily the motion of a mechanism.an enclosed chamber in a canal, dam, etc., with gates at each end, for raising or lowering vessels from one level to another by admitting or releasing water.complete and unchallenged control; an unbreakable hold: The congresswoman has a lock on the senatorial nomination.someone or something certain of success; sure thing: any of various holds, especially a hold secured on the arm, leg, or head: (in an escapement) the overlap between a tooth of an escape wheel and the surface of the pallet locking it.a projection or recession in the mating face of a forging die.to fasten or secure (a door, window, building, etc.) Perhaps some mythical swashbuckling character from film or fiction …Zorro, the Lone Ranger, even Batman or Robin. When you’re committed to one person in a relationship, and won’t let anyone else or anything tear the two of you apart. Be adamantine, and get after that perfect score!a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.Dictionary.com Unabridged When interest rates fell, I locked them in at a lower rate. Strawberries and cream at Wimbledon as sun (or rain) beats down on Centre Court and the boisterous crowd throngs Henman Hill.
Ah, summer in England! To guarantee something for the duration of a contract: You can lock in this interest rate for the life of the loan. Does your subconscious link them to glamour and derring-do…or pleasure…or even terror? (of an investor) to be unable or unwilling to sell or shift securities.to track or follow a target or object automatically by radar or other electronic means.to make (type) immovable in a chase by securing the quoins.completely; entirely; including every part, item, or facet, no matter how small or insignificant: We bought the whole business, lock, stock, and barrel.a device fitted to a gate, door, drawer, lid, etc, to keep it firmly closed and often to prevent access by unauthorized personsa similar device attached to a machine, vehicle, etc, to prevent use by unauthorized personsa section of a canal or river that may be closed off by gates to control the water level and the raising and lowering of vessels that pass through itthe jamming, fastening, or locking together of partsthe extent to which a vehicle's front wheels will turn to the right or lefta person or thing that is certain to win or to succeedany wrestling hold in which a wrestler seizes a part of his opponent's body and twists it or otherwise exerts pressure upon iteither of two players who make up the second line of the scrum and apply weight to the forwards in the front linea gas bubble in a hydraulic system or a liquid bubble in a pneumatic system that stops or interferes with the fluid flow in a pipe, capillary, etcto fasten (a door, gate, etc) or (of a door, etc) to become fastened with a lock, bolt, etc, so as to prevent entry or exitto secure (a building) by locking all doors, windows, etcto fix or become fixed together securely or inextricablyto clasp or entangle (someone or each other) in a struggle or embrace(esp of two equally matched opponents) to become engaged in argument or battlelock the stable door after the horse has been stolen The word buffs amongst you may already know that the longest word in the Collins English Dictionary is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Get Extra Extra focused on your dream. Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Think of masks and what comes to mind? But did you know that the longest word composed entirely of letters from the first half of the alphabet is the 12-letter fiddledeedee? Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots! Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary