interlock

UK/ˌɪntə(ɹ)ˈlɒk/US/ˌɪntə(ɹ)ˈlɒk/

verbC1Occasional — familiar, but not everyday · #11,588 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: interlocking, interlocked, interlocks

To interlock is to fit together so that neither part can come free. Interlocking pieces, the parts interlock, interlocking arrangements.

Interlocking bricks and paving hold by shape rather than by mortar, which is why a driveway laid that way flexes without cracking. In railways an interlock stops signals and points from ever conflicting.

Definitions of interlock

1verbinterlockTo fit together so that neither part can come free.C1
“The two gear wheels interlock and turn together.”

interlock is a fitting.

Where it comes from

Proto-Indo-European
*ters-
Vulgar Latin
*interrāre — to put in earth
Old French
enterrer
Middle English
enteren
English
inter
English, today
interlock

From inter- + lock. inter comes from Middle English enteren, borrowed from Old French enterrer, enterer, from Vulgar Latin interrāre (“to put in earth”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

interlock in the wild

Early sound-on-disc systems used a mechanical interlock with the movie projector, while more recent systems use timecodes.
Sound-on-disc
A common misconception is that interlock devices will simply turn off the engine if alcohol is detected; this would, however, create an unsafe driving situation.
Ignition interlock device
Without interlocks, operators risk exposure to moving parts, unexpected startup, and stored energy.
Interlock (engineering)
The doors also interlock with the top and bottom door openings so that both doors can be opened independently of each other.
Toyota Isis
Trapped-key interlocks are widely used to ensure safe access to potentially live or dangerous plant or equipment in an industrial setting.
Trapped-key interlocking

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

the enterrer family

international

interlock — used about once every 9,395 pages · #11,588 · point at the bar for the others

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