Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A bolt on a lock that is moved by turning the key or knob without activation of a spring.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The part of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged.
  • noun A kind of lock in which the bolt (moving portion) is held in position by the cylinder rather than by a spring and so can not be retracted except by turning the cylinder.
  • verb transitive To fasten or secure with a deadbolt.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word deadbolt.

Examples

  • Therefore, all Drommel needed to do was jump ahead to 4: 20, crush Keer†™ s skull while he slept, toss him off the balcony, lock the deadbolt from the inside, return to the past, and make sure he has lots of eye witnessed at 4: 20.

    365 tomorrows » 2007 » March : A New Free Flash Fiction SciFi Story Every Day 2007

  • That way if somebody was to break the glass and reach inside, they couldn't unlock your deadbolt, which is what happens a lot of times.

    CNN Transcript Jul 26, 2002 2002

  • The first layer is what I call target hardening, which is anything you do to prevent or cause delays in your house being broken into, such as deadbolt locks, things of that nature.

    CNN Transcript Aug 12, 2006 2006

  • And a lot of houses actually have the wrong kind of deadbolt locks on the front and rear door.

    CNN Transcript Jun 13, 2003 2003

  • Today, underneath the solar panels, there's a new set of deadbolt locks on all my doors.

    Weather beaten 2011

  • On Erie Street, I had two locks, a deadbolt, and a chain on my fourth-floor walk-up apartment.

    The Memory Palace Mira Bartók 2011

  • European Pressphoto Agency Gareth Bale Most impressive of all, six of those goals came against a seemingly impenetrable Inter side that rode a superhuman goalkeeper and deadbolt defense to three trophies last season, including a semifinal win over Barcelona.

    Tip of the Day 2011

  • At night, I use the door chain and the deadbolt and sleep with a knife tucked beneath my pillow, a hammer beneath my bed.

    The Memory Palace Mira Bartók 2011

  • For many New Yorkers, home security begins and ends with a deadbolt and chain.

    A Bronx Castle Maya Pope-Chappell 2011

  • For many New Yorkers, home security doesn't go far beyond a deadbolt and a chain.

    Castle in the Bronx Maya Pope-Chappell 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.