SECURITY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does security mean? 

• SECURITY (noun)
  The noun SECURITY has 9 senses:

1. the state of being free from danger or injury

2. defense against financial failure; financial independence

3. freedom from anxiety or fear

4. a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends

5. property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation

6. a department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers

7. a guarantee that an obligation will be met

8. an electrical device that sets off an alarm when someone tries to break in

9. measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc.

  Familiarity information: SECURITY used as a noun is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SECURITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of being free from danger or injury

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

we support the armed services in the name of national security

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

safety (the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "security"):

peace; public security (the general security of public places)

secureness (the state of freedom from fear or danger)

protection; shelter (the condition of being protected)

Antonym:

insecurity (the state of being subject to danger or injury)

Derivation:

secure (free from danger or risk)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Defense against financial failure; financial independence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Synonyms:

protection; security

Context example:

insurance provided protection against loss of wages due to illness

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

assets (anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by a person or company)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "security"):

easy street (financial security)

hedge; hedging (any technique designed to reduce or eliminate financial risk; for example, taking two positions that will offset each other if prices change)

insurance (promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company)

Derivation:

secure (financially safe)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Freedom from anxiety or fear

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Context example:

the watch dog gave her a feeling of security

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

bravery; fearlessness (feeling no fear)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "security"):

confidence (a feeling of trust (in someone or something))

Derivation:

secure (free from fear or doubt; easy in mind)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Synonyms:

certificate; security

Context example:

he held several valuable securities

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

instrument; legal document; legal instrument; official document ((law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "security"):

stock; stock certificate (a certificate documenting the shareholder's ownership in the corporation)

OTC security; over the counter security; unlisted security (a security traded in the over-the-counter market)

listed security (a security that has been accepted for trading by one of the organized and registered securities exchanges in the US)

letter security (a stock or bond that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold in the public market)

convertible; convertible security (a corporate security (usually bonds or preferred stock) that can be exchanged for another form of security (usually common stock))

proprietorship certificate (a certificate showing who is responsible in an individually owned business)

partnership certificate (a certificate showing the interests of all parties in a business partnership)

zero-coupon security; zero coupon security (a security that makes no interest payments but instead is sold at a deep discount from its face value)

bond; bond certificate (a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal)

tax-exempt; tax-exempt security (a security that is not subject to taxation)

scrip (a certificate whose value is recognized by the payer and payee; scrip is not currency but may be convertible into currency)

registered security (a security whose owner's name is recorded on the books of the issuer (or issuer's agent))

mortgage-backed security (a security created when a group of mortgages are gathered together and bonds are sold to other institutions or the public; investors receive a portion of the interest payments on the mortgages as well as the principal payments; usually guaranteed by the government)

agency security; government security (a security issued by United States government agencies or the Farm Credit System)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Synonyms:

security; surety

Context example:

bankers are reluctant to lend without good security

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

transferred possession; transferred property (a possession whose ownership changes or lapses)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "security"):

deposit (money given as security for an article acquired for temporary use)

earnest (something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract)

recognisance; recognizance ((law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited)

stock-purchase warrant; stock warrant; warrant (a type of security issued by a corporation (usually together with a bond or preferred stock) that gives the holder the right to purchase a certain amount of common stock at a stated price)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

security; security department

Context example:

the head of security was a former policeman

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

department; section (a specialized division of a large organization)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A guarantee that an obligation will be met

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

security; surety

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

guarantee; warrant; warrantee; warranty (a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications)

Sense 8

Meaning:

An electrical device that sets off an alarm when someone tries to break in

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

security; security measure; security system

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

electrical device (a device that produces or is powered by electricity)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

security; security measures

Context example:

military security has been stepped up since the recent uprising

Hypernyms ("security" is a kind of...):

guard; precaution; safeguard (a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.)

 Context examples 

‘The firm does so when the security is good.’ I answered.

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

Saturn will strongly support this new moon, indicating you will be able to make the kind of money that will soundly improve your sense of security.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

All the partnership books and papers must remain in our possession; all your books and papers; all money accounts and securities, of both kinds.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Now you have given me a security worth having; and I shall proceed with courage.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

During this period of his development he never knew a moment's security.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

They appear to be lists of Stock Exchange securities.

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

Ah yes, they keep a permanent guard there on account of the value of the securities that they hold.

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

It would be hard to do without, especially in terms of security.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

Two days of joyful security were immediately followed by the over-throw of every thing.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“In security I offer—” cried Don Pedro.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)