1 C1
(Non-standard/rare) To keep something secured beneath a lock or under lock and key.
"The old documents were locked under a heavy iron clasp in the archive."
lock under
C1
Not a standard established phrasal verb in modern English; may appear in specialised or dialectal contexts to mean securing something beneath a locking mechanism.
In plain English
To keep something secured or hidden under a lock.
What does "lock under" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To lock something so that it sits or remains under something else.
Actually means
To keep something secured or hidden under a lock.
Usage tip
'Lock under' is not a recognised standard phrasal verb in contemporary English dictionaries. It may appear in very specific technical or dialectal use. Learners should be cautious about using it.
How to conjugate "lock under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lock under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
locks under
he/she/it
Past simple
locked under
yesterday
Past participle
locked under
have + pp
-ing form
locking under
continuous
Hear "lock under" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lock under" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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