French word

cadenasser

Pronunciation

IPA/kadənase/

Meaning

  • verbpadlock

Example

Avant de partir, elle cadenasse le portail.

Before leaving, she padlocks the gate.

Illustration for cadenasser (padlock)

More examples

Il a cadenassé la porte du garage.

He padlocked the garage door.

Core concept

A visible padlock securing a gate, door, or object against opening from outside.

Common phrases

  • cadenasser la porte

    padlock the door

  • cadenasser le portail

    padlock the gate

Similar words

verrouiller: Secure a door or window by operating its lock or bolt.
fermer à clé: Close and lock a door or box with a key.

Definition in French

Fixer un cadenas sur une porte, un portail ou un objet pour en empêcher l'ouverture par l'extérieur.

Word origin

Cadenasser is formed from French cadenas with the verb suffix -er; cadenas came through Spanish from Latin catena, meaning chain.

Usage tips

  • Cadenasser takes a direct object, as in cadenasser le portail, rather than a preposition before the secured object.

Opposites

  • décadenasserremove the padlock from ___verb
  • déverrouillerunlockverb

Related words

  • cadenassagepadlockingnoun
  • cadenassépadlockedadjective

Word lists with this word