SECURE


Meaning of SECURE in English

I. -kyu̇(ə)r, -u̇ə adjective

( sometimes -er/-est )

Etymology: Latin securus free from care, safe, secure, from sed, se without + cura care — more at idiot , cure

1.

a. archaic : unwisely free from fear or distrust : careless , overconfident

went up … and smote the host: for the host was secure — Judg 8:11 (Authorized Version)

b. : free from fear, care, or anxiety : easy in mind : confident

secure himself … he went out of his way to help others — Vance Palmer

secure in the knowledge that a nurse is there to take over if necessary — Dorothy Barclay

c. : assured in the opinion or expectation : having no doubt

secure in a belief

grow to feel too secure in their power — F.L.Mott

d. archaic : confident of a sure or safe prospect : certain

secure to be as blest as thou canst bear — Alexander Pope

when she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love — Jane Austen

2.

a. : free from danger

the feudal lord and his people were no longer secure behind their fortifications — Tom Wintringham

— often used with from or against

secure from harm

secure against attack

b. : free from risk of loss

no man's life or fortune was secure — F.D.Roosevelt

c. : affording safety : inviolable

a secure hideaway

a secure telephone line

d. : trustworthy , dependable

his judgment on them is not so secure — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude

voice under secure control — John Briggs

e. : strong, stable, or firm enough to ensure safety : solid , unassailable

a secure foundation

a secure lock

made a secure place for himself in criticism — T.S.Eliot

3. : capable of being expected or counted on with confidence : assured , sure

a secure victory

secure of an audience that shared his views — C.H.Rickword

Synonyms: see safe

II. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

transitive verb

1. obsolete : to free (as a person) from care, fear, or anxiety

I came secured by her promises — Thomas Fuller

2.

a. : to relieve from exposure to danger : make safe : guard

labor's efforts to secure itself — New Republic

— often used with from or against

secure the country from a repetition of the experience — Irish Digest

secure your own countrymen against brutality — Kenneth Roberts

b. : to shield or make secure (as a military position or movement) from capture, destruction, or hostile interference

for the time being, the beach was secured — Irwin Shaw

3.

a. archaic : to give certitude to : assure

finds a way … to secure himself of a powerful advocate — William Broome

b. : to put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving : guarantee

secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity — U.S. Constitution

securing that there are no unfilled gaps — Lancet

c.

(1) : to give pledge of payment to (a creditor)

(2) : to give pledge or payment of (an obligation)

secure a note by a pledge of collateral security

4.

a. : to seize and confine (a person) : hold fast : pinion

secure a prisoner with handcuffs

two redcoats quickly secured him — Rex Ingamells

b. : to make fast : tie down : seal

secure a door

secure the hatches of a ship

secure a letter with a wax seal

5. archaic

a. : to safeguard against (as an evil or danger) : prevent

securing false and illegal trade — W.S.Perry

b. : to divert (a person) from a dangerous course

so I may secure you from acting with … rashness — Sir Walter Scott

6.

a. : to come into secure possession of ; especially : to acquire as the result of effort : procure

secure employment

secure cooperation

secure a confession

the good and rare things, in most countries secured and held by the few — Russell Lord

secured an inside room on one of the largest steamers — David Fairchild

b. : to bring about : effect , produce

secured his ignominious dismissal — T.J.P.Lever

we secured that they remain for some months — Herbert Hoover

perfect technique will always secure a finer performance — Warwick Braithwaite

7. : to release (naval personnel) from work or duty : dismiss , excuse

secure unnecessary personnel, partly to make it easier on those who still must stay on duty — E.L.Beach

intransitive verb

1. of naval personnel : to stop work : go off duty : knock off

you may secure now … get yourself some eggs and coffee — Herman Wouk

2. of a ship : to tie up : berth

she secured alongside — Alan Villiers

Synonyms: see endure , get

III. noun

( -s )

Etymology: secure (II)

: a naval signal announcing time to secure

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.