SECURE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does secure mean? 

• SECURE (adjective)
  The adjective SECURE has 5 senses:

1. free from fear or doubt; easy in mind

2. free from danger or risk

3. not likely to fail or give way

4. immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

5. financially safe

  Familiarity information: SECURE used as an adjective is common.

• SECURE (verb)
  The verb SECURE has 6 senses:

1. get by special effort

2. cause to be firmly attached

3. assure payment of

4. make certain of

5. fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug

6. furnish with battens

  Familiarity information: SECURE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SECURE (adjective)

Declension: comparative and superlative

Sense 1

Meaning:

Free from fear or doubt; easy in mind

Synonyms:

secure; unafraid; untroubled

Context example:

he was secure that nothing will be held against him

Antonym:

insecure (lacking self-confidence or assurance)

Derivation:

security (freedom from anxiety or fear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Free from danger or risk

Context example:

made a secure place for himself in his field

Similar:

assured (characterized by certainty or security)

firm (securely established)

fail-safe (guaranteed not to fail)

sure (physically secure or dependable)

Also:

protected (kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss)

safe (free from danger or the risk of harm)

invulnerable (immune to attack; impregnable)

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

Context example:

a secure hold on her wrist

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:

Immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

Synonyms:

impregnable; inviolable; secure; strong; unassailable; unattackable

Context example:

a secure telephone connection

Similar:

invulnerable (immune to attack; impregnable)

Derivation:

secureness (the state of freedom from fear or danger)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Financially safe

Synonyms:

dependable; good; safe; secure

Context example:

a secure investment

Similar:

sound (financially secure and safe)

Derivation:

security (defense against financial failure; financial independence)

• SECURE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Get by special effort

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

procure; secure

Context example:

He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed

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 2

Meaning:

Cause to be firmly attached

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

fasten; fix; secure

Context example:

she fixed her gaze on the man

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)

lock (fasten with a lock)

clinch (flatten the ends (of nails and rivets))

clinch (secure or fasten by flattening the ends of nails or bolts)

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)

clamp (fasten or fix with a clamp)

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; ground (fix firmly and stably)

velcro (fasten with Velcro)

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; cast anchor; drop anchor (secure a vessel with an anchor)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make certain of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

assure; ensure; guarantee; insure; secure

Context example:

Preparation will guarantee success!

Verb group:

guarantee; vouch (give surety or assume responsibility)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "secure"):

make (assure the success of)

doom (make certain of the failure or destruction of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

plug; secure; stop up

Context example:

stop up the leak

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"):

stopper; stopple (close or secure with or as if with a stopper)

tampon (plug with a tampon)

chink (fill the chinks of, as with caulking)

cork; cork up (close a bottle with a cork)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Furnish with battens

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

batten; batten down; secure

Context example:

batten ships

Hypernyms (to "secure" is one way to...):

beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Then I started to go round the house to see that all was secure—a duty which I usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform myself that night.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She must know herself too secure of the regard of all the rest of you, said Fanny, with half a sigh, to have any such apprehension.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

His attendance was by this means secured, and the rest followed in course.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Now I am secure of you for ever.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She very soon discovered that there is a charm about fine clothes which attracts a certain class of people and secures their respect.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Her family wished to secure me because I was of a good race; and so did she.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I have written to Lestrade asking him to supply us with the details which are now wanting, and which he will only get after he has secured his man.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One moment surely might be spared; and, so desperate should be the exertion of her strength, that, unless secured by supernatural means, the lid in one moment should be thrown back.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Let him go where he will, with the means that my love has secured to him!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)