“Lakh” or “Loch” or “Lock” or “Lough”—Which to use?

“Lakh” or “Loch” or “Lock” or “Lough”

Overview

lakh / loch / lock / lough are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

lakh: NA

loch: (noun) a long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked). (noun) Scottish word for a lake.

lock: (noun) a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed. (noun) a strand or cluster of hair. (noun) a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun. (noun) enclosure consisting of a section of canal that can be closed to control the water level; used to raise or lower vessels that pass through it. (noun) a restraint incorporated into the ignition switch to prevent the use of a vehicle by persons who do not have the key. (noun) any wrestling hold in which some part of the opponent's body is twisted or pressured. (verb) fasten with a lock. (verb) become rigid or immoveable. (verb) hold in a locking position. (verb) hold fast (in a certain state). (verb) pass by means through a lock in a waterway. (verb) build locks in order to facilitate the navigation of vessels.

lough: (noun) a long narrow (nearly landlocked) cove in Ireland. (noun) Irish word for a lake.

Pronunciation

lakh: NA

loch: l·AA·k

lock: l·AA·k

lough: l·AW

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Examples in Context

Examples of “lakh”

15 lakh to be spent on fencing…
…was sold for Rs 15.6 lakh at the Osian's Cinefan Auction,…
…of college is around 4 lakh sq.feet.

Examples of “loch”

…boarded the barge Maytime in Loch Goil and destroyed and took
Bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster
…running east of Crianlarich and Loch Lomond, south of Strath Fillan…
The other three lakes were Loch Cál in Uí Nialláin, Loch…
…Clyde, Faslane, on the Gare Loch.
…wilderness starting from Tarbet on Loch Lomond.
…Mortum, Sabaton, Alestorm, Therion, and Loch Vostok appeared.
…on an elevated spot overlooking Loch Ken, demolished 1950s.
…within the Breadalbane section of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National…
The Loch Long Monster Documentary film on…

Examples of “lock”

Lock Pick
State Teachers College, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1930
…one of the functions Capitals lock (usually called “Caps Lock”), Level…
…include having a snapping turtle lock onto his hand.
…Complex formerly known as Picketts Lock in Edmonton, London Borough of
…decided to apply an ankle lock but Venis made it to…
…and a solid mechanical transmission lock is applied to the crown…
…of inadvertent hitting (e.g., the lock key pressed together with Shift…
…rpm with lever weights to lock the transmission input shaft to…
Most clipless pedals lock onto the cleat when stepped…

Examples of “lough”

…Carrickmacross, where the family seat, Lough Fea house, is located.
…to the shores of Ardboe Lough.
…in 1851 by J. G. Lough, and to his wife, Harriet,…
…cow which emerged from nearby Lough Neagh.
…near the western shore of Lough Neagh between Moneymore, Magherafelt, Ballyronan…
…of a canal to connect Lough Erne with Lough Neagh.
Ballymena town, Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains…
…– for services to the Lough Neagh Rescue Service.
…on the west side of Lough Allen were denuded for the…
…Moybeg, a fictional village on Lough Neagh which was based on

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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