to cordon off / shut off / lock
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to cordon off
To make an area or route inaccessible with a barrier, such as tape or a fence, so that no one can enter or pass through.
Die Polizei musste die gesamte Straße wegen des Unfalls absperren.
The police had to cordon off the entire street because of the accident.
'Absperren' (to cordon off / shut off / lock) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' comes between 'ab' and 'sperren'.
Ein Polizist sperrt die Unfallstelle ab.
A police officer cordons off the accident site.
The accusative object reveals the exact meaning. A place ('Straße' — street, 'Bereich' — area) is blocked off, a supply line ('Wasser' — water, 'Gas' — gas) is shut off, and a door ('Keller' — basement, 'Garage' — garage) is locked.
Wegen des Konzerts sperrt die Stadt die Innenstadt ab.
Because of the concert, the city is cordoning off the city center.
When an area is cordoned off, this is often done by 'die Polizei' (the police) or 'die Feuerwehr' (the fire department). Common tools used are 'ein Absperrband' (barrier tape) or 'Gitter' (barriers/fences).
Die Feuerwehr hat das brennende Gebäude weiträumig abgesperrt.
The fire department cordoned off a wide area around the burning building.
A very common and important combination is 'den Haupthahn absperren' (to shut off the main valve). This usually refers to the central water or gas supply in a building.
Bei einem Wasserrohrbruch sollte man sofort den Haupthahn absperren.
If a water pipe bursts, you should shut off the main valve immediately.
to lock / to complete
'abschließen' and 'absperren' can both mean that something is no longer accessible. 'abschließen' is used especially for doors, gates, or containers when you secure them with a key or lock. 'absperren' is often used for paths, roads, or areas when you block them with tape, a barrier, or a sign. In some regions, 'absperren' can also be used for a door with a key. That is why the words can be confused. A practical tip: you lock a door with 'abschließen'; you cordon off a street or dangerous area with 'absperren'.
Omar sperrt den Weg ab, damit niemand die Baustelle betritt.
Omar blocks off the path so that no one enters the construction site.
Das Kind wartet, bis die Mutter die Haustür abschließt.
The child waits until the mother locks the front door.