Pronunciation: /lɑk ʌp/
noun a device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used to secure a door, gate, or container
A1 I put the key in the lock up.
A2 The lock up on the gate is broken.
B1 The lock up on the door is secure.
B2 The lock up mechanism is complicated.
C1 The lock up system is controlled remotely.
C2 The lock up mechanism is state-of-the-art and cannot be easily bypassed.
verb to fasten with a lock
A1 Please lock up the door before you leave.
A2 She always locks up her bike when she goes inside the store.
B1 The police locked up the suspect in a cell overnight.
B2 The company decided to lock up the valuable documents in a secure safe.
C1 The museum curator made sure to lock up the priceless artifacts every night.
C2 The prisoner was locked up in solitary confinement for his own safety.
adverb in a manner that secures something with a lock
A1 She always remembers to lock up before leaving the house.
A2 He locked up his bike before going into the store.
B1 The security guard locked up the building for the night.
B2 Make sure to lock up your valuables when traveling.
C1 The museum curator locked up the priceless artifacts in a secure vault.
C2 After the bank robbery, the suspects were locked up in jail awaiting trial.
formal The security guard will lock up the building at the end of the day.
informal Don't forget to lock up before you leave the house.
slang I always make sure to lock up tight when I'm out of town.
figurative She felt like she had to lock up her emotions to protect herself from getting hurt.
locked
lock ups
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has locked up
is locking up
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to lock up
locking up
locked up