English Dictionary |
LOCK UP
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
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Dictionary entry overview: What does lock up mean?
• LOCK UP (verb)
The verb LOCK UP has 2 senses:
2. place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape
Familiarity information: LOCK UP used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Secure by locking
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Context example:
lock up the house before you go on vacation
Hypernyms (to "lock up" is one way to...):
fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
lockup (the act of locking something up to protect it)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
lock; lock away; lock in; lock up; put away; shut away; shut up
Context example:
She locked her jewels in the safe
Hypernyms (to "lock up" is one way to...):
confine (prevent from leaving or from being removed)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Derivation:
lockup (the act of locking something up to protect it)
Context examples
"Which would Mademoiselle choose if she had her will?" asked Esther, who always sat near to watch over and lock up the valuables.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I have read of a gentleman who owned a so fine house in London, and when he went for months of summer to Switzerland and lock up his house, some burglar came and broke window at back and got in.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
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