Zárat

Zárat is the accusative singular form of the Hungarian noun zár, which means a lock or locking mechanism. The word refers to a device used to secure openings such as doors, chests, or safes. In Hungarian, nouns change form depending on case and definiteness, so when the lock is the direct object of a verb, zár becomes zárat in the accusative. For example, in a sentence like meg kell nyitni a zárat, the form zárat marks that the lock is the object of the action.

The term zár generally covers a range of locking devices, including mechanical tumbler locks, padlocks, and built-in door locks. While zár denotes the general concept of a lock, zárat specifically appears in contexts where the lock is being acted upon, rather than merely described.

Etymology of zár is rooted in Hungarian and is treated as a longstanding core word in the language. Its precise historical origins are not always stated in concise references, but it is considered a native Hungarian term rather than a borrowed one. The form zárat is a predictable inflection used in everyday and formal Hungarian whenever the lock is the object of the action described by the verb. See also zár (lock) for the base noun.