German word

abschließen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapˌʃliːsən/

Meaning

  • verblock

Example

Ich schließe die Tür ab.

I lock the door.

Illustration for abschließen (lock)

More examples

Er will die Tür abschließen.

He wants to lock the door.

Core concept

An opening or unfinished matter is brought decisively to a closed state, with a key securing the physical case.

Common phrases

  • die Tür abschließen

    lock the door

  • das Fahrrad abschließen

    lock the bicycle

Similar words

zumachen: Closing a door to stop passage or a box to conceal its contents.
schließen: Shutting a door or window without locking it.
aufschließen: Using a key to remove a door's lock so it can be opened.
zusperren: Using a key to lock a door and keep people out.

Definition in German

mit einem Schlüssel etwas fest verschließen; besonders eine Tür so abschließen, dass sie verriegelt ist

Word origin

German abschließen joins separable ab- ('off') to schließen ('close'), giving both the sense of securing something closed and the related sense of completing it.

Usage tips

  • In formal contexts, eine Versicherung abschließen usually means 'take out insurance', not 'lock insurance'.

Other meanings

  • finishverb
  • concludeverb

Opposites

  • aufschließenunlockverb

Related words

Word lists with this word