- a detachable lock having a hinged or sliding shackle, which can be used to secure a door, lid, etc, by passing the shackle through rings or staples
- (transitive) to fasten with or as if with a padlock
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pad•lock /ˈpædˌlɑk/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Buildinga small lock made of a U-shaped bar that can be opened and swung away.
v. [~ + object]
- Buildingto fasten with or as if with a padlock:The file cabinet was padlocked.
pad•lock
(pad′lok′),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- a portable or detachable lock with a pivoted or sliding shackle that can be passed through a link, ring, staple, or the like.
v.t.
- to fasten with or as with a padlock.
- late Middle English padlok. See pod3, lock1 1425–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
padlock /ˈpædˌlɒk/ n
'padlock' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):