noun
padlock
PAD-lok
Padlock (noun) means a portable lock with a curved shackle, used to secure something by hooking through a hasp or chain. Example: “He clipped a padlock through the shed door.”
noun
1
A portable lock with a curved shackle, used to secure something by hooking through a hasp or chain.
"He clipped a padlock through the shed door."
verb
1
To fasten something shut with a padlock.
"She padlocked her bike to the railing."
How to use padlock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA detachable lock you clip onto a hasp, chain, or gate.
Common pairings
padlock a gate
combination padlock
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Word forms
- Plural
- padlocks
- Third person singular
- padlocks
- Past tense
- padlocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He clipped a _____ through the shed door.
Etymology
Comes from the earlier pad lock (19th century); before that, Middle English padlock, padlokke, from pad-, of unknown origin, and lok (“lock”). It may originally have meant a lock for a pad (“gate”), or a gate opening onto a path, or a lock for a basket or pannier, from UK dialect pad (“a pannier”).
Rhymes for padlock
See all rhymes for padlock →Frequently asked questions
What does “padlock” mean?
The word “padlock” means a portable lock with a curved shackle, used to secure something by hooking through a hasp or chain. In plain terms, a detachable lock you clip onto a hasp, chain, or gate.
How do you pronounce “padlock”?
“Padlock” is pronounced PAD-lok (/ˈpædˌlɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “padlock” in a sentence?
Here is “padlock” used in a sentence: “He clipped a padlock through the shed door.”
What part of speech is “padlock”?
Depending on how it is used, “padlock” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “padlock” have?
“Padlock” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a portable lock with a curved shackle, used to secure something by hooking through a hasp or chain.
