Dictionary

secure en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /sɪˈkjɔː(ɹ)/ pour–poor merger
• /sɪˈkjʊə(ɹ)/ without the pour–poor merger
• /səˈkjɔɹ/ (General-American)
• /səˈkjɝ/ (General-American)
• /səˈkjʊɹ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sēcūrus (“of persons, free from care, quiet, easy; in a bad sense, careless, reckless; of things, tranquil, also free from danger, safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) + cūra (“care”); see cure. Doublet of sure and the now obsolete or dialectal sicker (“certain, safe”).

Meanings

1. Free from attack or danger; protected.
   • The vast majority of American Jews not only greatly dislike President Trump but also believe he has made them less safe: according to a May 2019 poll, nearly three-quarters of Jewish voters believe American Jews are less secure under Trump than they were before, 71 percent disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance, and nearly 60 percent believe that he bears at least some responsibility for the synagogue shootings carried out by white nationalists in Pittsburgh and Poway. 2020 March, Joshua Leifer, “Led Astray”, in The Baffler, number 50:
2. Free from the danger of theft; safe.
3. Free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret.
4. Free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid.
   • No sooner were we up there, than the old woman dragged the ladder, by which we had ascended, away with a chuckle, as if she was now secure that we could do no mischief, and sat herself down again once more, to doze and await her master's return. 1861, Elizabeth Gaskell, The Grey Woman:
   • But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes. 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
5. Firm and not likely to fail; stable.
6. Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable.
7. Confident in opinion; not entertaining, or not having reason to entertain, doubt; certain; sure; commonly used with of.
   • Confidence then bore thee on, secure / Either to meet no danger, or to find / Matter of glorious trial. 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • secure of a welcome
8. (obsolete) Overconfident; incautious; careless.
   • They were secure where they ought to have been wary, and timorous where they might well have been secure. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
9. Certain to be achieved or gained; assured.
   • Just when victory seemed secure, they let it slip from their grasp.

Forms

Antonyms

insecure

Deriveds

supersecure · nonsecure · self-secure · ultrasecure · securance · cybersecure · securonomics · unsecure · securely · secureness · oversecure · food-secure · biosecure

Hyponyms

selfsecure · secure by design · computationally secure · fail-secure

Relateds

security

Translations (143)

de beschützt (free from attack or danger; protected) · hy ապահով (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · es confiable (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · mi takuhe (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · fr sûr (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · fr sûr (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · bg уверен (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · da beskyttet (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · bg безопасен (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · be бяспе́чны (free from attack or danger; protected) · lo ປອດໄພ (free from attack or danger; protected) · be бяспе́чны (free from the danger of theft; safe) · fa مطمئن (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · ro protejat (free from attack or danger; protected) · de sicher (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · es a salvo (free from attack or danger; protected) · pt seguro (free from attack or danger; protected) · hy ապահով (free from the danger of theft; safe) · lv drošs (free from the danger of theft; safe) · lv drošs (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · de geschützt (free from attack or danger; protected) · bg надежден (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · da sikker (free from attack or danger; protected) · de sicher (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · cmn 保护 (free from attack or danger; protected) · sw salamu (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · fi vakaa (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · mi roki (free from attack or danger; protected) · de zuverlässig (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · ru надёжный (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · fi turvallinen (free from attack or danger; protected) · mk безбеден (free from the danger of theft; safe) · ro asigurat (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · hy անվտանգ (free from attack or danger; protected) · no sikker (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · pt seguro (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · enm siker (free from attack or danger; protected) · fr sûr (free from the danger of theft; safe) · enm siker (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · la tūtus (free from attack or danger; protected) · de zuverlässig (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · hy ապահով (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · it sicuro (free from the danger of theft; safe) · no sikker (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · bg сигурен (free from attack or danger; protected) · fi tallessa (free from the danger of theft; safe) · it affidabile (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · pl bezpieczny (free from the danger of theft; safe) · ca segur (free from attack or danger; protected) · grc ἀσφαλής (free from attack or danger; protected) · es seguro (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · mi whita (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · enm siker (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · es confiable (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · fi peloton (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · pl bezpieczny (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · sw salamu (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · hy ապահով (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · io sekura (free from attack or danger; protected) · sw salamu (free from attack or danger; protected) · fr sûr (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · no sikker (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · mi ngita (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · fa ایمن (free from attack or danger; protected) · es seguro (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · fa امن (free from attack or danger; protected) · hy ապահով (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · bg гарантиран (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · tr güvende (free from the danger of theft; safe) · pt seguro (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · de sicher (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · mi haumaru (free from attack or danger; protected) · es resguardado (free from attack or danger; protected) · es seguro (free from the danger of theft; safe) · bg защитен (free from the danger of theft; safe) · vi an toàn (free from attack or danger; protected) · fr sûr (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · fi varma (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · it protetto (free from attack or danger; protected) · it sicuro (free from attack or danger; protected) · eo sekura (free from attack or danger; protected) · de sicher (free from the danger of theft; safe) · ro sigur (free from attack or danger; protected) · no sikker (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · it stabile (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · lv drošs (free from attack or danger; protected) · sw salamu (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · no sikker (free from attack or danger; protected) · fa مطمئن (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · ro sigur (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · sw salamu (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · enm siker (free from the danger of theft; safe) · no sikker (free from the danger of theft; safe) · es aplomado (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · pt seguro (free from the danger of theft; safe) · mk безбеден (free from attack or danger; protected) · fi salattu (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · el ασφαλής (free from attack or danger; protected) · mi tāwhiwhi (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · fi varma (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · la sēcūrus (free from attack or danger; protected) · pdt faust (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · ro sigur (free from the danger of theft; safe) · it segreto (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · es aplomado (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · it sicuro (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · sw salamu (free from the danger of theft; safe) · lt slaptas (free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret) · ga diongbháilte (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · mi marutau (free from attack or danger; protected) · sq Si Gur (free from attack or danger; protected) · es a salvamano (free from attack or danger; protected) · fr sûr (free from attack or danger; protected) · fa امن (free from the danger of theft; safe) · pl bezpieczny (free from attack or danger; protected) · sq Si Gur (free from the danger of theft; safe) · tr güvenli (free from the danger of theft; safe) · bg безопасен (free from attack or danger; protected) · lt saugus (free from the danger of theft; safe) · mk сигурен (free from attack or danger; protected) · bg сигурен (free from the danger of theft; safe) · bg сигурен (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · ro sigur (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · lt apsaugotas (free from attack or danger; protected) · es seguro (free from attack or danger; protected) · enm siker (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · km មានសុវត្ថិភាព (free from attack or danger; protected) · es seguro (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · tr sağlam (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · de geschützt (free from the danger of theft; safe) · ro sigur (Firm and not likely to fail; stable) · mk сигурен (free from the danger of theft; safe) · fi turva- (free from attack or danger; protected) · fi turvassa (free from attack or danger; protected) · es asegurado (free from attack or danger; protected) · es seguro (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · de sicher (free from attack or danger; protected) · ro stabil (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · pt seguro (free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid) · fi turvassa (free from the danger of theft; safe) · pl bezpieczny (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · fi luotettava (Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable) · pt a salvo (free from attack or danger; protected)

secure en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /sɪˈkjɔː(ɹ)/ pour–poor merger
• /sɪˈkjʊə(ɹ)/ without the pour–poor merger
• /səˈkjɔɹ/ (General-American)
• /səˈkjɝ/ (General-American)
• /səˈkjʊɹ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin sēcūrus (“of persons, free from care, quiet, easy; in a bad sense, careless, reckless; of things, tranquil, also free from danger, safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) + cūra (“care”); see cure. Doublet of sure and the now obsolete or dialectal sicker (“certain, safe”).

Meanings

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. 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
2. To put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving; to make certain; to assure; frequently with against or from, or formerly with of.
   • It secures its possessor of eternal happiness. 1831, Thomas Dick, The Philosophy of Religion:
   • to secure a creditor against loss; to secure a debt by a mortgage
3. To fix in place; to close or confine effectually; to render incapable of getting loose or escaping.
   • All springs for the engine and tender are of the laminated type with plates of carbon steel, which are secured in the spring buckles by a vertical centre rivet. 1951 March, “British Railways Standard "Britannia" Class 4-6-2 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 186:
   • to secure a prisoner; to secure a door, or the hatches of a ship
4. To get possession of; to make oneself secure of; to acquire certainly.
   • With the Argentinian secured United will step up their attempt to sign a midfielder and, possibly, a defender in the closing days of the transfer window. Juventus’s Arturo Vidal, Milan’s Nigel de Jong and Ajax’s Daley Blind, who is also a left-sided defensive player, are potential targets. 2014 August 26, Jamie Jackson, “Ángel di María says Manchester United were the ‘only club’ after Real”, in The Guardian:
   • One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter III, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • Her achievements have secured her place in the annals of our nation
   • [Captain] was able to secure some good photographs of the fortress. 1911, Flight, page 766:
   • to secure an estate
5. (obsolete, transitive) To plight or pledge.

Forms

Deriveds

securable · securability · countersecure · securement · unsecure · secure arms · resecure · oversecure

Translations (63)

bg сдобивам се (to get possession of, to acquire) · es pregar (to make fast, to firmly affix) · mi whakangita (to make secure) · fi suojata (to make secure) · es segurar (to make secure) · mi tāmaua (to make fast, to firmly affix) · it mettere al sicuro (to make secure) · uk закріпля́ти (to make fast, to firmly affix) · mi whakananawe (to make fast, to firmly affix) · nl verzekeren (to make secure) · fi kiinnittää (to make secure) · bg укрепвам (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es obtener (to get possession of, to acquire) · ga urraigh (to make secure) · fi taata itselleen (to get possession of, to acquire) · id mengamankan (to make secure) · el σιγουρεύω (to make secure) · bg осигурявам (to make secure) · uk укріпи́ти (to make fast, to firmly affix) · mi taparenga (to make fast, to firmly affix) · mi punga (to get possession of, to acquire) · it assicurare (to make secure) · tr sıkı sıkı bağlamak (to make fast, to firmly affix) · fr sécuriser (to make secure) · uk укріпля́ти (to make fast, to firmly affix) · bg гарантирам (to make secure) · fi varmistaa itselleen (to get possession of, to acquire) · fi varmistaa (to make secure) · gv shickyree (to make secure) · fi lukita (to make fast, to firmly affix) · sw usalamu (to make secure) · uk укрі́плювати (to make fast, to firmly affix) · uk закріпи́ти (to make fast, to firmly affix) · mi whakangita (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es lucrar (to get possession of, to acquire) · eo sekurigi (to make secure) · mi ngahu (to make fast, to firmly affix) · cs zajistit (to make secure) · it proteggere (to make secure) · fi teljetä (to make fast, to firmly affix) · de sichern (to make secure) · mi tāmau (to make secure) · uk закрі́плювати (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es conseguir (to get possession of, to acquire) · it assicurare (to get possession of, to acquire) · mi tāmau (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es securizar (to make secure) · la munio (to make secure) · it garantire (to make secure) · es asegurar (to make secure) · cs jistit (to make secure) · it ottenere (to get possession of, to acquire) · fi sulkea (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es fijar (to make fast, to firmly affix) · mi whakatāmau (to make fast, to firmly affix) · bg придобивам (to get possession of, to acquire) · pt assegurar (to make secure) · es afianzar (to make fast, to firmly affix) · fi turvata (to make secure) · de absichern (to make secure) · bg закрепвам (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es clavar (to make fast, to firmly affix) · es segurizar (to make secure)