Word
airlock
Phoneticsair·lock, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛɹˌɫɔk/
UK/ˈeəlɒk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small sealed room with a door on each side that lets people move between two places with different air or pressure. You wait inside while one door closes before the other opens.
n. a sealed intermediate chamber fitted with two airtight doors that cannot open at the same time, allowing passage between areas of different pressure or cleanliness while limiting air exchange.
Examples
“The divers wait inside the airlock before the dive.”
“The astronauts enter the airlock to put on their suits before they step out into space.”
“Engineers designed the laboratory airlock with interlocking doors that never open together, preserving the sterile environment inside despite constant movement of staff and samples.”
Examples
simple
“The divers wait inside the airlock before the dive.”
contextual
“The astronauts enter the airlock to put on their suits before they step out into space.”
complex
“Engineers designed the laboratory airlock with interlocking doors that never open together, preserving the sterile environment inside despite constant movement of staff and samples.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “airlock” in context.
Verb
01. airlock opens
“The airlock opens only after pressure is fully equalized.”
noun + verb
02. cycle airlock
“It takes three minutes to cycle the airlock between missions.”
verb + noun
03. depressurize airlock
“Engineers depressurized the airlock before opening the outer hatch.”
verb + noun
04. enter airlock
“The divers entered the airlock to reach the pressurized tunnel.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. emergency airlock
“The station crew escaped through the emergency airlock.”
adj + noun
06. inner airlock
“Crew members waited at the inner airlock while pressure equalized.”
adj + noun
07. main airlock
“All personnel must report to the main airlock for decontamination.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. airlock chamber
“Two researchers can fit inside the small airlock chamber at once.”
noun + noun
09. airlock door
“The heavy airlock door hissed shut behind them.”
noun + noun
10. airlock hatch
“He secured the airlock hatch before checking the oxygen gauge.”
noun + noun
11. airlock system
“A faulty airlock system delayed the launch by several hours.”
noun + noun
12. cycle through the airlock
“Astronauts cycle through the airlock in pairs before a spacewalk.”
Etymology
From air + lock.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/airlock