in·ter·lock • v. / ˌintərˈläk/ [intr.] (of two or more things) engage with each other by overlapping or by the fitting together of projections and recesses: their fingers interlocked.• n. / ˈintərˌläk/ 1. a device or mechanism for connecting or coordinating the function of different components.2. (also interlock fabric) a fabric knitted with closely interlocking stitches that allow it to stretch, typically used in underwear.DERIVATIVES: in·ter·lock·er n.

interlock A hardware or software method of coordinating and/or synchronizing multiple processes in a computer. Such a method can be used, for example, in the situation in which a certain process should not begin until another process is completed. A common interlock method uses flags to do this. Another typical situation is one in which requests for some service, e.g. memory access, arrive simultaneously. A hardware interlock procedure will force the requests to become sequential, usually according to a predefined rule.