lockup
lockup — noun
- lockupsingular
- lockupsplural
1. a small prison, often part of a police station or courthouse, where police hold
a small prison, often part of a police station or courthouse, where police hold people temporarily before they go to court or are taken to a larger prison
The police kept Tamás overnight in the station lockup after the street fight.
lockup after [event] — reason for detention
Adisa spent only a few hours in the small-town lockup before the judge released her.
spent time in [place] lockup — common collocation
The courthouse lockup has two cells and a narrow corridor.
Reporters gathered outside the lockup to hear news of the arrested suspect.
After the hearing, Dylan went back to the lockup to wait for a transport van.
- jail
more general term for any place where people are held; 'lockup' is usually smaller and more temporary
- cell
focuses on the individual room rather than the whole facility
- holding cell
specifically a temporary cell for short stays before court
文法句型
lockup + verb (has, holds, contains)
用法筆記
In British English, 'lockup' often refers to a temporary holding cell in a police station. In American English, it can also refer to a small local jail.
常見錯誤
2. a separate building or garage that can be locked, which people rent or own to ke
a separate building or garage that can be locked, which people rent or own to keep vehicles or other belongings safe from theft or damage
Rafael stores his motorcycle in a rented lockup behind the apartment building.
in a rented lockup — common collocation
Nellie kept the antique furniture in a lockup until the new house was ready.
keep [items] in a lockup — purpose collocation
Hao's lockup garage has strong metal doors and a security camera.
The family stored their camping equipment in a lockup near the park.
Indra rented a lockup at the harbour to keep the boat safe during winter.
- garage
broader term; a garage may be attached to a house, while a lockup is usually separate
- storage unit
American equivalent for rented storage space; less specific about vehicles
- lock-up garage
the full form of this sense, emphasising it is a garage
文法句型
rent a lockup
lockup + noun (garage, space)
用法筆記
This sense is chiefly British. In the UK, a 'lock-up' or 'lock-up garage' is a standalone garage rented separately from a home. In American English, 'storage unit' is more common for a similar concept.
常見錯誤
3. the process of fastening all doors and windows with locks to secure a building,
the process of fastening all doors and windows with locks to secure a building, or the situation of being fastened in this way
The lockup of the warehouse happens at nine o'clock every evening.
the lockup of [place] — noun pattern specifying location
Sivan is responsible for the lockup of all laboratory cabinets after each experiment.
A strict lockup policy keeps the expensive equipment safe at night.
The night guard double-checked the lockup of every door before leaving his shift.
Emily forgot the lockup of the garden shed, and the tools stayed outside all night.
- locking up
a verbal noun with the same meaning; more common in everyday speech
- securing
broader term that can include locking as well as other safety measures
- unlocking
the opposite action of opening locks
文法句型
the lockup of [place]
lockup + noun (time, procedure, policy)
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'of' to specify what is being locked up (e.g., 'the lockup of the building'). Often appears in compounds like 'lockup time' or 'lockup procedure'.