unlock

English Online Dictionary. What means unlock‎? What does unlock mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English unloken, unlouken, onlouken, from Old English onlūcan (“to unlock”), equivalent to un- +‎ lock. Cognate with Dutch ontluiken (“to unlock”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈlɒk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈlɑk/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /anˈlɔk/
• Rhymes: -ɒk

Verb

unlock (third-person singular simple present unlocks, present participle unlocking, simple past and past participle unlocked)

1. (transitive) To undo or open a lock or something locked by, for example, turning a key, or selecting a combination.

2. (transitive) To obtain access to something; to meet the requirements of a security or protection system.
3. (transitive, mobile telephony) To configure (a mobile phone) so that it is not bound to any particular carrier.
4. (transitive) To disclose or reveal previously unknown knowledge or potential.
5. (intransitive) To be or become unfastened or unrestrained.
6. (figurative) To make available.
7. To undermine something that has control over a situation; to find a way to counter or oppose.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

unlock (plural unlocks)

1. The act of unlocking something.
2. (video games) An initially hidden feature that is made available to reward the player for some achievement.

   Synonym: unlockable (Noun)

References

• “unlock”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.