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noun Common

locks

loks

Locks (noun) means Strands or tresses of hair, viewed collectively. Example: “She brushed her long, dark locks before bed.”

noun
1
Strands or tresses of hair, viewed collectively.
"She brushed her long, dark locks before bed."
2
Dreadlocks.
"He's been growing his locks for years."

How to use locks

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA poetic or informal word for hair, or short for dreadlocks.

Common pairings
flowing locks grow locks

Word forms

Lockses plural

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She brushed her long, dark _____ before bed.

Etymology

Variant of Lock.

tresses curls ringlets mane strands dreadlocks

Related words

Rhymes for locks

See all rhymes for locks →

Frequently asked questions

What does “locks” mean?

The word “locks” means strands or tresses of hair, viewed collectively. In plain terms, a poetic or informal word for hair, or short for dreadlocks.

How do you pronounce “locks”?

“Locks” is pronounced loks (/lɑks/ in IPA).

How do you use “locks” in a sentence?

Here is “locks” used in a sentence: “She brushed her long, dark locks before bed.”

What part of speech is “locks”?

“Locks” is a noun.

Is “locks” a common word?

“Locks” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “locks” have?

“Locks” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: strands or tresses of hair, viewed collectively.

What is the difference between locks and hair on someone's head?

'Hair' is the general, everyday word for what grows on the head. 'Locks' refers to hair viewed as strands or tresses and is more literary or descriptive, often used admiringly, as in 'flowing locks'.

What is the difference between locks and tresses?

Both refer to strands of hair viewed collectively, and both are literary in tone. 'Tresses' traditionally suggests long hair, often a woman's, while 'locks' is broader and can describe hair of any length on anyone.

How is 'locks' used to mean dreadlocks?

In this sense, 'locks' is a short form of 'dreadlocks', the rope-like strands formed by matting or braiding hair. It is common in everyday speech, as in 'growing his locks', and is sometimes spelled 'locs'.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary