secure

[si-kyoo r] /sɪˈkyʊər/
adjective, securer, securest.
1.
free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.
2.
dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening:
The building was secure, even in an earthquake.
3.
affording safety, as a place:
He needed a secure hideout.
4.
in safe custody or keeping:
Here in the vault the necklace was secure.
5.
free from care; without anxiety:
emotionally secure.
6.
firmly established, as a relationship or reputation:
He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.
7.
sure; certain; assured:
secure of victory; secure in religious belief.
8.
safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons:
secure radio communications between army units.
9.
Archaic. overconfident.
verb (used with object), secured, securing.
10.
to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain:
to secure materials; to secure a high government position.
11.
to free from danger or harm; make safe:
Sandbags secured the town during the flood.
12.
to effect; make certain of; ensure:
The novel secured his reputation.
13.
to make firm or fast, as by attaching:
to secure a rope.
14.
Finance.
  1. to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.
  2. to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.
15.
to lock or fasten against intruders:
to secure the doors.
16.
to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc.:
The regiment secured its position.
17.
to capture (a person or animal):
No one is safe until the murderer is secured.
18.
to tie up (a person), especially by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.
19.
to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of:
to secure diplomatic phone conversations.
verb (used without object), secured, securing.
20.
to be or become safe; have or obtain security.
21.
Nautical.
  1. to cover openings and make movable objects fast:
    The crew was ordered to secure for sea.
  2. to be excused from duty:
    to secure from general quarters.
Origin
1525-35; < Latin sēcūrus carefree, equivalent to sē- se- + cūr(a) care (see cure) + -us adj. suffix; cf. sure
Related forms
securable, adjective
securely, adverb
secureness, noun
securer, noun
oversecure, adjective, verb (used with object), oversecured, oversecuring.
oversecurely, adverb
presecure, verb (used with object), presecured, presecuring.
quasi-secure, adjective
quasi-securely, adverb
resecure, verb, resecured, resecuring.
supersecure, adjective
supersecurely, adverb
supersecureness, noun
unsecure, adjective
unsecurely, adverb
unsecureness, noun
well-secured, adjective
Synonyms
1. protected. See safe. 2. stable, fast, fixed. 7. confident. 10. gain. See get. 11. protect, guard, safeguard. 12. assure, guarantee.
Antonyms
1. unsafe.
Examples from the web for secure
  • Stay alert, secure wallets and bags, and store valuables in a hotel safe.
  • Our role is to protect consumers and enable them to secure value for money and benefit from reliable supplies.
  • But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure.
  • If you think about the center, it's going to seem rather safe and secure and possibly bland.
  • Winning this contract will help the company sell its services to other countries looking to secure their borders.
  • Some forms of surveillance make us feel secure against crime and harm.
  • Participants monitor the site, hoping to secure a great bargain.
  • Tie the lion's mane around your hood and secure it with safety pins.
  • Otherwise you cannot take countermeasures or design a more secure system.
  • The new findings may help conservationists secure elephant habitats.
British Dictionary definitions for secure

secure

/sɪˈkjʊə/
adjective
1.
free from danger, damage, etc
2.
free from fear, care, etc
3.
in safe custody
4.
not likely to fail, become loose, etc
5.
able to be relied on; certain: a secure investment
6.
(nautical) stowed away or made inoperative
7.
(archaic) careless or overconfident
verb
8.
(transitive) to obtain or get possession of: I will secure some good seats
9.
when intr, often foll by against. to make or become free from danger, fear, etc
10.
(transitive) to make fast or firm; fasten
11.
when intr, often foll by against. to make or become certain; guarantee: this plan will secure your happiness
12.
(transitive) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security
13.
(transitive) to make (a military position) safe from attack
14.
(nautical) to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc
15.
(transitive) (nautical) to stow or make inoperative: to secure the radio
Derived Forms
securable, adjective
securely, adverb
securement, noun
secureness, noun
securer, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care
Word Origin and History for secure
adj.

1530s, "without care, dreading no evil," from Latin securus, of persons, "free from care, quiet, easy," also in a bad sense, "careless, reckless;" of things, "tranquil; free from danger, safe," from *se cura, from se "free from" (see secret (n.)) + cura "care" (see cure (n.)).

In English, of places, "free from danger, unexposed," from 1580s. Meaning "firmly fixed" (of material things) is from 1841, on notion of "affording grounds for confidence." Of telephones, "not wiretapped," from 1961. Replaced Middle English siker, from Old English sicor, from the Latin word. Related: Securely.

v.

c.1600, "to make safe," from secure (adj.). Meaning "ensure, make certain" is from 1650s; that of "seize and hold" is from 1640s; sense of "get possession" is from 1743. Related: Secured; securing.