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SECURE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Free from fear or doubt; easy in mind
Example:
he was secure that nothing will be held against him
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Antonym:
insecure (lacking self-confidence or assurance)
Derivation:
security (freedom from anxiety or fear)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Free from danger or risk
Example:
made a secure place for himself in his field
Classified under:
Similar:
sure (physically secure or dependable)
assured (characterized by certainty or security)
firm (securely established)
fail-safe (guaranteed not to fail)
Also:
invulnerable (immune to attack; impregnable)
safe (free from danger or the risk of harm)
protected (kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss)
Antonym:
insecure (lacking in security or safety)
Derivation:
security (the state of being free from danger or injury)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Not likely to fail or give way
Example:
a secure hold on her wrist
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
steady (securely in position; not shaky)
tight (securely or solidly fixed in place; rigid)
Also:
fixed (securely placed or fastened or set)
Antonym:
insecure (not firm or firmly fixed; likely to fail or give way)
Derivation:
secureness (the quality of being fixed in place as by some firm attachment)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Financially safe
Example:
a secure investment
Synonyms:
dependable; good; safe; secure
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
sound (financially secure and safe)
Derivation:
security (defense against financial failure; financial independence)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
Example:
a secure telephone connection
Synonyms:
impregnable; inviolable; secure; strong; unassailable; unattackable
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
invulnerable (immune to attack; impregnable)
Derivation:
secureness (the state of freedom from fear or danger)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they secure ... he / she / it secures
Past simple: secured
Past participle: secured
-ing form: securing
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make certain of
Example:
Preparation will guarantee success!
Synonyms:
assure; ensure; guarantee; insure; secure
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Verb group:
guarantee; vouch (give surety or assume responsibility)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "secure"):
doom (make certain of the failure or destruction of)
make (assure the success of)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Furnish with battens
Example:
batten ships
Synonyms:
batten; batten down; secure
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "secure" is one way to...):
beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Cause to be firmly attached
Example:
she fixed her gaze on the man
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "secure" is one way to...):
attach (cause to be attached)
Cause:
fasten (become fixed or fastened)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "secure"):
stay (fasten with stays)
clinch (flatten the ends (of nails and rivets))
clinch (secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts)
lock (fasten with a lock)
lock up (secure by locking)
hasp (secure or lock with a hasp)
zip; zip up; zipper (close with a zipper)
tack (fasten with tacks)
string (string together; tie or fasten with a string)
hook (fasten with a hook)
belt (fasten with a belt)
cement (bind or join with or as if with cement)
grout (bind with grout)
staple (secure or fasten with a staple or staples)
rivet (fasten with a rivet or rivets)
button (fasten with buttons)
pin (attach or fasten with pins)
hang; hang up (cause to be hanging or suspended)
hang (place in position as by a hinge so as to allow free movement in one direction)
deposit; lodge; stick; wedge (put, fix, force, or implant)
entrench; intrench (fix firmly or securely)
buckle; clasp (fasten with a buckle or buckles)
brooch; clasp (fasten with or as if with a brooch)
stake (tie or fasten to a stake)
wire (fasten with wire)
coapt (fit tightly and fasten)
joggle (fasten or join with a joggle)
joint (fasten with a joint)
toggle (fasten with, or as if with, a toggle)
strap (secure (a sprained joint) with a strap)
bind; tie (fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord)
rig (connect or secure to)
bitt (secure with a bitt)
latch (fasten with a latch)
garter (fasten with or as if with a garter)
chain (fasten or secure with chains)
cable (fasten with a cable)
picket (fasten with a picket)
rope up (attach to one another, for safety)
cinch; girth (tie a cinch around)
bandage; bind (wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose)
cramp (secure with a cramp)
cleat (secure on a cleat)
anchor; cast anchor; drop anchor (secure a vessel with an anchor)
velcro (fasten with Velcro)
clamp (fasten or fix with a clamp)
bar (secure with, or as if with, bars)
belay (turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or him)
belay (fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat)
bight (fasten with a bight)
brad (fasten with brads)
chock (secure with chocks)
noose (secure with a noose)
crank (fasten with a crank)
run up; sew; sew together; stitch (fasten by sewing; do needlework)
spike (secure with spikes)
berth; moor; tie up (secure in or as if in a berth or dock)
moor (secure with cables or ropes)
anchor; ground (fix firmly and stably)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP
Sense 4
Meaning:
Fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug
Example:
stop up the leak
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "secure" is one way to...):
close; fill up (fill or stop up)
"Secure" entails doing...:
enter; infix; insert; introduce (put or introduce into something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "secure"):
cork; cork up (close a bottle with a cork)
chink (fill the chinks of, as with caulking)
tampon (plug with a tampon)
stopper; stopple (close or secure with or as if with a stopper)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 5
Meaning:
Get by special effort
Example:
He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed
Synonyms:
procure; secure
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "secure" is one way to...):
obtain (come into possession of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "secure"):
suborn (procure (false testimony or perjury))
copyright (secure a copyright on a written work)
patent (obtain a patent for)
engage; enlist (hire for work or assistance)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody
Derivation:
securer (someone who obtains or acquires)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Assure payment of
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "secure" is one way to...):
guarantee; vouch (give surety or assume responsibility)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "secure"):
certify (guarantee payment on; of checks)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Context examples:
I shall lock the door and secure the key the same as before, though I do not expect any trouble to-night.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
It would be worth whatever you need to do to secure it.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
But again the frost came and made the paths of the sea secure.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
I have been to the theatre, and secured a box for to-morrow night.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
A small, slender object designed to secure another object.
(Pin Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)
The researchers speculate that because companion animals offer unqualified acceptance, their presence makes the children feel more secure.
(Animals’ presence may ease social anxiety in kids with autism, NIH)
Those who hold with Urban shall have Urban's pardon, while I have Clement's for the Clementist—or he who is in doubt may have both, so that come what may he shall be secure.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Now I found that a secure retreat was provided for me in my extremity.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The dog-musher secured a club and went over to the chained animal.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
No doubt, with due diligence, we can secure some other specimen.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
