| lock | 1. Anything that fastens; specifically, a fastening, as for a door, a lid, a trunk, a drawer, and the like, in which a bolt is moved by a key so as to hold or to release the thing fastened. 2. A fastening together or interlacing; a closing of one thing upon another; a state of being fixed or immovable. "Albemarle Street closed by a lock of carriages." (De Quincey) 3. A place from which egress is prevented, as by a lock. 4. The barrier or works which confine the water of a stream or canal. 5. An inclosure in a canal with gates at each end, used in raising or lowering boats as they pass from one level to another; called also lift lock. 6. That part or apparatus of a firearm by which the charge is exploded; as, a matchlock, flintlock, percussion lock, etc. 7. A device for keeping a wheel from turning. 8. A grapple in wrestling. Detector lock, a lock containing a contrivance for showing whether it as has been tampered with. Lock bay, a range of bond stone. Mortise lock, a door lock inserted in a mortise. Rim lock, a lock fastened to the face of a door, thus differing from a mortise lock. Origin: AS. Loc inclosure, an inclosed place, the fastening of a door, fr. Lucan to lock, fasten; akin to OS. Lukan (in comp), D. Luiken, OHG. Luhhan, Icel. Lka, Goth. Lukan (in comp); cf. Skr. Ruj to break. Cf. Locket. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| lock and key models | <chemistry, immunology> Specific recognition in biological systems might be mediated through interactions that depend upon very precise steric matching between receptor and ligand or between enzyme and substrate. The commonly used analogy is between lock and key and implies a precise sterically determined interaction. (18 Nov 1997) |
| lock finger | An affection in which the movement of the finger is arrested for a moment in flexion or extension and then continues with a jerk. Synonym: jerk finger, lock finger, snap finger, spring finger, stuck finger. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lock hospital | A hospital for the treatment of venereal diseases. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lock step | A mode of marching by a body of men going one after another as closely as possible, in which the leg of each moves at the same time with the corresponding leg of the person before him. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lock-and-key model | A model used to suggest the mode of operation of an enzyme in which the substrate fits into the active site of the protein like a key into a lock. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Locke | Frank S., British physiologist, 1871-1949. See: Locke's solutions, Locke-Ringer solution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Locke's solutions | Solution's containing, in varying amounts, NaCl, CaCl2, KCl, NaHCO3, and d-glucose; used for irrigating mammalian heart and other tissues, in laboratory experiments; also used in combination with naturally occurring body substances (e.g., blood serum, tissue extracts) and/or more complex chemically defined nutritive solution's for culturing animal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Locke-Ringer solution | A solution containing NaCl, CaCl2, KCl, MgCl2, NaHCO3, d-glucose, and water; used in the laboratory for physiological and pharmacological experiments. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locked bite | An occlusion in which the cusp arrangement restricts lateral excursions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locked facets | Complete dislocation of one or both articular processes, usually with overriding of the inferior articular process of the vertebra above into a position anterior to the superior articular process of the vertebra below. Synonym: locked facets. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locked knee | A condition in which the knee lacks full extension and flexion because of internal derangement, usually the result of a torn medial meniscus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locked-in syndrome | <syndrome> Basis pontis infarct resulting in tetraplegia, horizontal ophthalmoplegia, dysphagia, and facial diplegia with preserved consciousness; caused by basilar artery occlusion. Synonym: pseudocoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| locken | <botany> The globeflower (Trollius). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lockjaw | An infection caused by the micro-organism Clostridium tetani. Symptoms include muscular rigidity, contractions and pain with stiffness in the jaw muscles. (27 Sep 1997) |
| air-lock | <microscopy> An intermediate, enclosed chamber of a vacuum or pressure system through which an object may be passed without effectively changing the vacuum or pressure of the main body of the system. Reference here is to the vacuum of all electron microscopes. (05 Aug 1998) |
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| key-in-lock manoeuvre | A method by which obstetrical forceps are used to rotate the foetal head. Synonym: DeLee's manoeuvre. (05 Mar 2000) |