The word "locked" is spelled with four letters: L, O, C, and K. Its phonetic transcription in IPA is /lɑkt/. The 'L' represents a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, followed by 'O' representing an open mid-back rounded vowel, then 'C' for a voiceless palatal stop and finally 'K' for a voiceless velar plosive. The combination of these sounds creates the word "locked," which can refer to something that is secured with a lock or inaccessible without a key.
Locked is an adjective that refers to the state of being secured, fastened, or closed in such a way that it is difficult or impossible to open, access, or move. It is commonly used to indicate that something is firmly and securely fixed, preventing any unauthorized or accidental entry or movement.
In the context of physical objects such as doors, gates, or safes, being locked implies that the mechanism that allows them to be open or closed has been engaged, usually with a key, combination, or electronic code. This mechanical or electronic device ensures that the object remains shut and inaccessible unless the correct method or tool is employed to unlock it.
The term locked also encompasses abstract concepts, such as being locked out or locked up. Being locked out refers to the state of being unable to gain entry into a location such as a building, vehicle, or online account, typically due to loss of a key or forgotten password. Being locked up, on the other hand, refers to being confined or imprisoned within a secure facility, restricting freedom of movement.
In addition to physical and abstract uses, locked can also describe a psychological or emotional state. For example, someone may feel mentally locked or emotionally locked, indicating that they are experiencing a situation where their thoughts or feelings are confined, restricted, or suppressed.
Overall, locked denotes a condition of being firmly closed, inaccessible, or confined, encompassing a wide range of physical, abstract, and emotional aspects.
Made fast; furnished with a lock; closely embraced.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "locked" has its origin in Old English, derived from the word "locian" meaning "to enclose or shut up". In Middle English, the word evolved into "loken" and later became "locked", which essentially retained the same meaning. The ultimate source of this word is believed to be the Proto-Germanic word "lukojan", which meant "to close" or "to lock". This Proto-Germanic word is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*leug-", meaning "to bend" or "to flex". The concept of locking or shutting something up has been an integral part of human societies for centuries, thus giving rise to various words with similar meanings across different languages.