Supports higher locks (7)
I believe the answer is:
upholds
'supports' is the definition.
(upholding is a kind of supporting)
'higher locks' is the wordplay.
'higher' becomes 'up'.
'locks' becomes 'holds' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'up'+'holds'='UPHOLDS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for upholds that I've seen before include "Advocates" , "Supports, the law say" , "Maintains" .)