Word
padlock
Phoneticspad·lock, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpædˌɫɑk/
UK/pˈædlɒk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a lock that you can move around, with a U-shaped bar that opens and closes. You use it to keep things like gates, bikes, or lockers safe.
n. a detachable lock with a U-shaped shackle that can be passed through a staple or link and then secured. Typically operated by a key or a numerical combination.
Examples
“He put a heavy padlock on the garden gate.”
“Students are required to bring their own padlock to secure their gym lockers during physical education classes.”
“The rusted padlock yielded only after several applications of industrial lubricant, finally granting the investigators access to the long-sealed archives.”
Examples
simple
“He put a heavy padlock on the garden gate.”
contextual
“Students are required to bring their own padlock to secure their gym lockers during physical education classes.”
complex
“The rusted padlock yielded only after several applications of industrial lubricant, finally granting the investigators access to the long-sealed archives.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “padlock” in context.
Verb
01. padlock clicks
“The padlock clicked shut, and the locker was finally secure.”
noun + verb
02. pick padlock
“The intruder managed to pick the padlock without leaving any marks.”
verb + noun
03. snap padlock
“The thief used bolt cutters to snap the padlock on the shed.”
verb + noun
04. undo padlock
“She struggled to undo the padlock with her cold hands.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. combination padlock
“I prefer using a combination padlock so I don't have to carry a key.”
adj + noun
06. heavy padlock
“The gate was secured with a heavy padlock and a thick chain.”
adj + noun
07. rusty padlock
“He had to use oil to get the rusty padlock to open.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. key for padlock
“I've lost the key for the padlock on my gym locker.”
noun + prep + noun
09. cut through a padlock
“The firemen had to cut through the padlock to enter the building.”
10. secure with a padlock
“Make sure the back gate is secured with a padlock before you leave.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'snap', 'click', or 'secure'.
Real-World Examples
“A hi-tech padlock secured with a fingerprint can be opened by anyone with a smartphone, security researchers have found.” “Paris city officials have started to remove padlocks symbolically fastened to one of the French capital's main bridges by loved-up couples.” “Thousands of "love padlocks" on a Roman bridge are being removed with bolt-cutters in order to protect the ancient structure.” “Buried with a padlock on her foot and an iron sickle across her neck, "Zosia" was never supposed to be able to come back from the dead.” Etymology
From earlier pad lock (19th c.); Middle English padlock, padlokke, from pad-, of unknown origin, + lok (“lock”). Perhaps originally a lock for a pad (“gate”), or a gate opening to a path, or a lock for a basket or pannier, from UK dialect pad (“a pannier”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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