Meanings
present singular third person interlocks · participle present interlocking · participle past interlocked · past interlocked
- ambitransitiveTo fit or clasp together securely.
- To interlace.
plural interlocks
- A safety device that prevents activation in unsafe conditions.
The demonstrator couldn't figure out why the machine wouldn't work, until he remembered that there was an interlock so it wouldn't operate with the cover open.
1 more example
Features such as trackless doors, mercury-type door interlocks, roof-mounted door fault indicator lights, rubber window glazing, improved retractable shoegear and a modified electro-pneumatic brake system designed to facilitate maintenance and improve reliability, which have proved their worth on the prototype trains, are continued in the new stock.
1960 February, “The first of London's new Piccadilly Line trains is delivered”, in Trains Illustrated, page 94
Synonyms & antonyms
verbcoordinate in such a way that all parts work together effectively
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁n̥tér
- Proto-Italic*n̥ter
- Latininter
- Latininter-
- Englishinter-
- Proto-Indo-European*lewg-
- Proto-Germanic*luką
- Proto-West Germanic*lok
- Old Englishloc
- Middle Englishlok
- Englishlock
- Englishinterlock
Translations
Bulgarian блокирам, свързвам
- блокирам (blokiram)To fit or clasp together securely
- свързвам (svărzvam)To interlace
- съединявам (săedinjavam)To interlace
Chinese Mandarin 互鎖 /互锁
- 互鎖 /互锁safety device
German verschränken, Verriegelung
- verschränkenTo interlace
- Verriegelungsafety device
Norwegian Bokmål forrigling
- forriglingsafety device
Spanish engranar, endentar
- engranarTo interlace
- endentarTo interlace
- encastrarTo interlace
- entrelazarTo interlace
- entretejerTo interlace
- bloqueosafety device
- trabasafety device
Cite this entry
interlock. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/interlock
“interlock.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/interlock. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “interlock,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/interlock.
Source: interlock on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.