WordGarden.iointerlock
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌɪntəlˈɒk/
US
- /ˌɪntərˈlɑk/
Meanings
Verb
to fit or lock together with another part or thing
to be closely connected or mutually dependent
Noun
a device or system that prevents one action until another condition is met
a knitted fabric or stitch made with interlocking loops
Beyond the definition
Think of LEGO bricks: they interlock, fitting snugly together to create something bigger and stronger. That's the core idea. To interlock means to connect things so closely that they fit firmly together or work as one whole. It can be physical, like puzzle pieces, fingers, or gears. It can also be more abstract, like parts of a plan or story that fit neatly together.
Sometimes it also refers to a system in which parts depend on each other. For example, two companies may have interlocking directorates, which means they share board members. You can even picture interlocking fingers as a sign of closeness.
Imagine building with blocks. If you simply stack them, they might topple over easily. But if you use blocks designed to fit into each other—to interlock—the structure becomes much more stable and secure. That's the essence of the word: to connect or link things together in a way that creates a strong, unified, and often inseparable whole.
The word suggests a close connection in which the parts fit together or depend on each other. It is commonly used for physical things, such as interlocking tiles on a roof, teeth on gears, or fingers held together. In engineering, an interlock can also mean a safety device or system that prevents one action unless another condition is met, helping avoid unsafe operation.
However, interlock is not limited to the physical world. It can also describe abstract relationships. For example, a complex plot in a novel may have interlocking storylines that connect step by step. A plan may have interlocking parts, where each part supports the others.
In some professional contexts, especially in business, interlock can refer to people holding positions of influence in more than one organization. This is often called "interlocking directorates." Whether you are talking about building a solid structure, parts of a machine working together, or ideas that connect closely, interlock describes things joined in a tight and meaningful way.
Examples
- 1
Plastic blocks
The plastic blocks interlock to make a strong frame.
- 2
Hands
She interlocked her fingers and rested her hands on the table.
- 3
Mechanical parts
The two gears interlock with each other inside the clock.
- 4
Visual design
The logo uses three interlocking rings.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Linked problems
The legal and financial problems interlock, so we have to solve them together.
- 6
Machine safety
The machine has a safety interlock that shuts it off when the cover is open.
- Phrasesafety interlock
a device that stops a machine from running in an unsafe state
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- interlocking gears
- interlocking pieces
- interlocking fingers
- interlock with
Word family
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Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- interlocknounverb
Forms
- interlocking-ing formverbnoun
- interlockedpast tenseverbnoun
- interlocksverbnoun