deadlock
no progress through disagreement
A situation where people are stuck because they cannot agree and nothing can move forward.
[a] deadlock; deadlock over [something]; deadlock between [people/groups]
- Talks between the union and management ended in deadlock after twelve hours.
- The election result created a political deadlock, with no party able to form a government.
- A last-minute compromise helped break the deadlock.
- The meeting reached a deadlock.
- Both sides refused to move, so there was a deadlock.
become stuck in disagreement
If talks or a process deadlock, they stop because people cannot agree.
[talks/negotiations] deadlock; [something] deadlocks [a process]
- The peace negotiations deadlocked over the issue of border security.
- A dispute over funding has deadlocked the committee for months.
- If the two parties deadlock again, the bill may fail.
- The talks deadlocked after lunch.
- The vote deadlocked at four to four.
mutual waiting in computing
A computer problem where programs or tasks wait for each other and none can continue.
[a] deadlock; deadlock between [processes/threads/transactions]
- The database transaction was rolled back after a deadlock was detected.
- The program can enter a deadlock if two threads hold locks and wait for each other.
- Good locking order helps prevent deadlocks in multithreaded code.
- Two processes waited forever in a deadlock.
- The system detected a deadlock.
enter computing deadlock
If computer tasks deadlock, they stop because each one is waiting for another.
[threads/processes] deadlock; [code/a transaction] deadlocks [a system]
- The application deadlocked when both threads tried to acquire the same two locks in opposite order.
- This patch stops the worker processes from deadlocking under heavy load.
- A badly designed transaction can deadlock the database.
- The threads deadlocked.
- The program deadlocked during the test.
secure door lock
A strong lock for a door, similar to what many Americans call a deadbolt.
[a] deadlock on [a door]
- The apartment door has a deadlock and a chain.
- They installed a deadlock on the back door after the break-in.
- Remember to use the deadlock when you leave the house overnight.
- The front door has a deadlock.
- A locksmith fitted a new deadlock.
- Base: deadlock
- Plural: deadlock, deadlocks
- Base: deadlock
- 3rd Person Singular: deadlocks
- Present Participle: deadlocking
- Past: deadlocked
break the deadlock
1make progress possible again
To do something that helps people move forward after being stuck.
- A new funding proposal finally broke the deadlock in the negotiations.
- The mayor tried to break the deadlock between the two sides.
- One goal just before halftime broke the deadlock.
deadlock detection
1finding computing deadlocks
A way for a computer system to find when tasks are stuck waiting for each other.
- The database uses deadlock detection to choose a transaction to roll back.
- Deadlock detection is important in systems that allow many threads to share resources.
- The new monitoring tool improved deadlock detection in production.
deadlock prevention
1avoiding computing deadlocks
Ways to design a computer system so tasks do not get stuck waiting for each other.
- A consistent lock order is a simple form of deadlock prevention.
- The course covers deadlock prevention, detection, and recovery.
- The team changed the transaction design to improve deadlock prevention.
deadlocked jury
1jury unable to agree
A jury that cannot agree on whether someone is guilty or not guilty.
- The judge declared a mistrial after the deadlocked jury said it could not reach a verdict.
- After three days of deliberations, the deadlocked jury was sent back to continue discussing the case.
- Prosecutors may retry the defendant if a deadlocked jury prevents a verdict.
end in deadlock
1finish with no decision
To finish with no result because neither side can win or agree.
- The budget talks ended in deadlock after both sides rejected the compromise.
- The vote ended in deadlock, so the chair had to cast the deciding vote.
- The match ended in deadlock after neither team scored.