Words / B1

WEELKL-amp/ˈwiːl klæmp/

A wheel clamp (id: wheel-clamp) is a heavy lock fitted to a wheel so you cannot drive the vehicle away (UK). US boot or Denver boot. You get a wheel clamp for illegal parking, then pay to have it removed. Countable. Not the same as a parking ticket alone.

Meaning

A lock fixed to a wheel so a parked vehicle cannot be driven away (UK).

Examples

• “The van got a wheel clamp for parking on double yellow lines.”
• “A sign in the car park warned that unauthorised vehicles would get a wheel clamp.”
• “They would not take the wheel clamp off until we paid at the kiosk.”

Good to know

a wheel clamp (UK). US: a boot. Contrast: a parking ticket (paper fine only). fit / remove a wheel clamp.

Near in meaning

boot

New