Adjacent Words

Secure definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SECU'RE, a. [L. securus.]
1. Free from danger of being taken by an enemy; that may resist assault or attack. Teh place is well fortified and very secure. Gibraltar is a secure fortress. In this sense, secure is followed by against or from; as secure against attack, or from an enemy.
2. Free from danger; safe; applied to persons; with from.
3. Free from fear or apprehension of danger; not alarmed; not disturbed by fear; confident of safety; hence, careless of the means of defense. Men are often most in danger when they feel most secure.
Confidence then bore thee on, secure
To meet no danger. Milton.
4. Confident; not distrultful; with of.
But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes. Dryden.
It concerns the most secure of his strength, to pray to God not to expose him to an enemy. Rogers.
5. Careless; wanting caution. [See No. 3.]
6. Certain; very confident. He is secure of a welcome reception.
SECU'RE, v. t.
1. To guard effectually from danger; to make safe. Fortifications may secure a city; ships of war may secure a harbor.
I spread a cloud before the victor's sight,
Sustain'd the vanquish'd, and secur'd his flight. Dryden.
2. To make certain; to put beyond hazard. Liberty and fixed laws secure to every citizen
due protection of person and property. the first duty of the highest interest of men is to secure the favor of God by repentance and faith, and thus secure to themselves future felicity.
3. To inclose or confine effectually; to guard effectually from escape; sometimes, to seize
and confine; as, to secure a prisoner. The sherif pursued the theif with a warrant, and secured him.
4. To made certain of payment; as, to secure a debt by mortgage.
5. To make certain of receiving a precarious debt by giving bond, mail, surety or other-wise; as, to secure a creditor.
6. To insure, as property.
7. To make fast; as, to secure a door; to secure a rafter to a plate; to secure the hatches of a ship.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: free from fear or doubt; easy in mind; "he was secure that nothing will be held against him" [syn: secure, unafraid, untroubled] [ant: insecure]
2: free from danger or risk; "secure from harm"; "his fortune was secure"; "made a secure place for himself in his field" [ant: insecure, unsafe]
3: not likely to fail or give way; "the lock was secure"; "a secure foundation"; "a secure hold on her wrist" [ant: insecure]
4: immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with; "an impregnable fortress"; "fortifications that made the frontier inviolable"; "a secure telephone connection" [syn: impregnable, inviolable, secure, strong, unassailable, unattackable]
5: financially sound; "a good investment"; "a secure investment" [syn: dependable, good, safe, secure] v
1: get by special effort; "He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed" [syn: procure, secure]
2: cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man" [syn: fasten, fix, secure] [ant: unfasten]
3: assure payment of
4: make certain of; "This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us"; "Preparation will guarantee success!" [syn: guarantee, ensure, insure, assure, secure]
5: fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug; "plug the hole"; "stop up the leak" [syn: plug, stop up, secure]
6: furnish with battens; "batten ships" [syn: batten, batten down, secure]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective (securer; -est) Etymology: Latin securus safe, secure, from se without + cura care — more at suicide Date: circa 1533 1. a. archaic unwisely free from fear or distrust ; overconfident b. easy in mind ; confident c. assured in opinion or expectation ; having no doubt 2. a. free from danger b. free from risk of loss c. affording safety <a secure hideaway> d. trustworthy, dependable <a secure foundation> 3. assured 1 <a secure victory> • securely adverb • secureness noun II. verb (secured; securing) Date: 1588 transitive verb 1. a. to relieve from exposure to danger ; act to make safe against adverse contingencies <secure a supply line from enemy raids> b. to put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving ; guarantee <secure the blessings of liberty — U.S. Constitution> c. to give pledge of payment to (a creditor) or of (an obligation) <secure a note by a pledge of collateral> 2. a. to take (a person) into custody ; hold fast ; pinion b. to make fast <secure a door> <secure a bike to a tree> 3. a. to get secure usually lasting possession or control of <secure a job> b. bring about, effect 4. to release (naval personnel) from work or duty intransitive verb 1. of naval personnel to stop work ; go off duty 2. of a ship to tie up ; berth Synonyms: see ensure • securer noun

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) In an operational context, to gain possession of a position or terrain feature, with or without force, and to make such disposition as will prevent, as far as possible, its destruction or loss by enemy action. See also denial measure.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & v. --adj. 1 untroubled by danger or fear. 2 safe against attack: impregnable. 3 reliable; certain not to fail (the plan is secure). 4 fixed or fastened so as not to give way or get loose or be lost (made the door secure). 5 a (foll. by of) certain to achieve (secure of victory). b (foll. by against, from) safe, protected (secure against attack). --v.tr. 1 make secure or safe; fortify. 2 fasten, close, or confine securely. 3 succeed in obtaining or achieving (have secured front seats). 4 guarantee against loss (a loan secured by property). 5 compress (a blood-vessel) to prevent bleeding. Phrases and idioms: secure arms Mil. hold a rifle with the muzzle downward and the lock in the armpit to guard it from rain. Derivatives: securable adj. securely adv. securement n. Etymology: L securus (as SE-, cura care)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Secure Se*cure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secured; p. pr. & vb. n. Securing.] 1. To make safe; to relieve from apprehensions of, or exposure to, danger; to guard; to protect. I spread a cloud before the victor's sight, Sustained the vanquished, and secured his flight. --Dryden. 2. To put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving; to make certain; to assure; to insure; -- frequently with against or from, rarely with of; as, to secure a creditor against loss; to secure a debt by a mortgage. It secures its possessor of eternal happiness. --T. Dick. 3. To make fast; to close or confine effectually; to render incapable of getting loose or escaping; as, to secure a prisoner; to secure a door, or the hatches of a ship. 4. To get possession of; to make one's self secure of; to acquire certainly; as, to secure an estate. Secure arms (Mil.), a command and a position in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right hand at the lewer band, the muzzle is dropped to the front, and the piece held with the guard under the right arm, the hand supported against the hip, and the thumb on the rammer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Secure Se*cure", a. [L. securus; pref. se- without + cura care. See Cure care, and cf. Sure, a.] 1. Free from fear, care, or anxiety; easy in mind; not feeling suspicion or distrust; confident. But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes. --DRyden. 2. Overconfident; incautious; careless; -- in a bad sense. --Macaulay. 3. Confident in opinion; not entertaining, or not having reason to entertain, doubt; certain; sure; -- commonly with of; as, secure of a welcome. Confidence then bore thee on, secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. --Milton. 4. Net exposed to danger; safe; -- applied to persons and things, and followed by against or from. ``Secure from fortune's blows.'' --Dryden. Syn: Safe; undisturbed; easy; sure; certain; assured; confident; careless; heedless; inattentive.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(secures, securing, secured) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you secure something that you want or need, you obtain it, often after a lot of effort. (FORMAL) Federal leaders continued their efforts to secure a ceasefire... Graham's achievements helped secure him the job. VERB: V n, V n n, also V n for n 2. If you secure a place, you make it safe from harm or attack. (FORMAL) Staff withdrew from the main part of the prison but secured the perimeter... VERB: V n 3. A secure place is tightly locked or well protected, so that people cannot enter it or leave it. We shall make sure our home is as secure as possible from now on. ADJ • securely He locked the heavy door securely and kept the key in his pocket. ADV: usu ADV with v 4. If you secure an object, you fasten it firmly to another object. He helped her close the cases up, and then he secured the canvas straps as tight as they would go... VERB: V n 5. If an object is secure, it is fixed firmly in position. Check joints are secure and the wood is sound... ADJ: usu v-link ADJ • securely Ensure that the frame is securely fixed to the ground with bolts... ADV: ADV with v 6. If you describe something such as a job as secure, it is certain not to change or end. ...trade union demands for secure wages and employment... ...the failure of financial institutions once thought to be secure. ADJ 7. A secure base or foundation is strong and reliable. He was determined to give his family a secure and solid base. ADJ: usu ADJ n 8. If you feel secure, you feel safe and happy and are not worried about life. She felt secure and protected when she was with him... ADJ: usu v-link ADJ 9. If a loan is secured, the person who lends the money may take property such as a house from the person who borrows the money if they fail to repay it. (BUSINESS) The loan is secured against your home... His main task is to raise enough finance to repay secured loans. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed adv/prep, V-ed

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Certain, sure, assured, confident. 2. Safe, free from danger, protected, insured. 3. Fixed, fast, stable, immovable. 4. Careless, unsuspecting, undisturbed, easy. 5. Over-confident, incautious, careless, inattentive, heedless, negligent. 6. Confident, relying, depending. II. v. a. 1. Guard, protect, make safe. 2. Insure, assure, ensure, guarantee, make sure, make certain, make sure of. 3. Fasten, make fast. 4. Get, acquire, gain, procure, obtain, get possession of.

Moby Thesaurus

accept, acquire, admit, advocate, affix, anchor, anchored, annex, arm, armor, arouse, arrogant, arrogate, ascertained, assume, assumed, assure, assured, attach, attest, attested, back, bag, balanced, bang, bar, barricade, batten, batten down, be seized of, be sponsor for, belay, believing, bind, bless, bolt, bond, bonded, bridle, bring, bring back, bring forth, bring out, bring to light, bulwark, button, button up, calculable, call a strike, call for, call forth, call it quits, call out, call up, capture, catch, cement, cemented, certain, certified, certify, chain, champion, chase after, choke, choke off, cinch, clamp, clap, clinch, cloak, close, close down, close shop, close up, closed, cocksure, collar, come by, come in for, come into, compass about, confident, confirm, constrict, contain, contract, convinced, cool, copyright, corral, cosy, countersecure, cover, cramp, cushion, decided, deduce, defend, definite, dependable, derive, derive from, determinate, determined, devout, dogmatic, doubtless, drag down, drag out, draw, draw forth, draw from, draw out, earn, easy, educe, elicit, enchain, endorse, engraft, ensure, ensured, enter into possession, entrammel, established, evident, evoke, faithful, faithworthy, fast, fasten, fasten down, fastened, fence, fend, fetch, fetch and carry, fetter, fideistic, fiducial, firm, firm as Gibraltar, fix, fixed, flank, fold, fold up, gain, get, get from, get hold of, get out of, glued, go after, go and get, go fetch, go for, go get, go on strike, go to get, good, graft, grapple, guarantee, guaranteed, guaranty, guard, guard against, gyve, hamper, handcuff, harbor, harvest, have, have coming in, haven, healthy, hobble, hog-tie, hopple, hubristic, hypothecate, immovable, immune, immunized, imperturbable, impressed with, in equilibrium, in the bag, induce, inevitable, insure, insured, intact, invincible, jammed, keep, keep from harm, key, knit, knock off, lash, latch, lay off, leash, lock, lock out, lock up, locked up, made sure, make, make fast, make safe, make secure, make sure, manacle, moor, moored, nail, nailed down, nestle, net, obtain, obvious, occlude, on ice, open-and-shut, overconfident, oversure, overweening, padlock, patent, peg down, persuaded, pick up, picket, pietistic, pin down, pinion, pious, pistic, plumb, poised, police, pompous, positive, predictable, prehend, preserve, probable, procure, produce, profitable, protect, protected, proud, proved, pull down, put in irons, put to, reap, reassured, receive, register, reliable, restrain, retrieve, ride shotgun for, rivet, rope, rouse, run after, sack, safe, safe and sound, safeguard, sanguine, satisfied, score, screen, screw up, seal, seal off, seal up, self, self-assured, self-confident, self-important, self-reliant, set, set to, settled, shackle, shag, shelter, sheltered, shield, shielded, shroud, shut, shut down, shut the door, shut up, shut up shop, sign, sign for, slam, snap, snug, sold on, solid, sound, sponsor, squeeze shut, stable, stand behind, stand up for, stated, staunch, steadfast, steady, stimulate, straitjacket, strangle, strap, strike, strong, stuck, sturdy, subscribe to, substantial, summon forth, summon up, sure, surefire, take, take in, take on, take over, take possession of, taped, tested, tether, tie, tie down, tie up, tight, tighten, trammel, trice up, tried, trim, trustworthy, trusty, unafraid, undamaged, under the impression, undersign, underwrite, undoubtful, undoubting, unexposed, unfailing, unfaltering, unflappable, unflinching, unharmed, unhesitating, unhurt, unquestionable, unscathed, unshakable, unthreatened, untouched, unwavering, walk out, wangle, wangle out of, warrant, warranted, wedged, well-balanced, well-founded, well-grounded, win, winkle out, without nerves, worm out, worm out of, zip up, zipper