secure

[ si-kyoor ]

/ sɪˈkyʊər /

adjective, se·cur·er, se·cur·est.

free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.

dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening: The building was secure, even in an earthquake.

affording safety, as a place: He needed a secure hideout.

in safe custody or keeping: Here in the vault the necklace was secure.

free from care; without anxiety: emotionally secure.

firmly established, as a relationship or reputation: He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.

sure; certain; assured: secure of victory; secure in religious belief.

safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons: secure radio communications between army units.

Archaic. overconfident.

verb (used with object), se·cured, se·cur·ing.

to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain: to secure materials; to secure a high government position.

to free from danger or harm; make safe: Sandbags secured the town during the flood.

to effect; make certain of; ensure: The novel secured his reputation.

to make firm or fast, as by attaching: to secure a rope.

Finance.

to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.
to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.

to lock or fasten against intruders: to secure the doors.

to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc.: The regiment secured its position.

to capture (a person or animal): No one is safe until the murderer is secured.

to tie up (a person), especially by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.

to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of: to secure diplomatic phone conversations.

verb (used without object), se·cured, se·cur·ing.

to be or become safe; have or obtain security.

Nautical.

to cover openings and make movable objects fast: The crew was ordered to secure for sea.
to be excused from duty: to secure from general quarters.

Nearby words

Origin of secure

1525–35; < Latin sēcūrus carefree, equivalent to sē- se- + cūr(a) care (see cure) + -us adj. suffix; cf. sure

SYNONYMS FOR secure

1 protected. See safe.

2 stable, fast, fixed.

7 confident.

10 gain. See get.

11 protect, guard, safeguard.

12 assure, guarantee.

ANTONYMS FOR secure

1 unsafe.

Related forms

se·cur·a·ble, adjectivese·cure·ly, adverbse·cure·ness, nounse·cur·er, noun

o·ver·se·cure, adjective, verb (used with object), o·ver·se·cured, o·ver·se·cur·ing.o·ver·se·cure·ly, adverbpre·se·cure, verb (used with object), pre·se·cured, pre·se·cur·ing.qua·si-se·cure, adjectivequa·si-se·cure·ly, adverbre·se·cure, verb, re·se·cured, re·se·cur·ing.su·per·se·cure, adjectivesu·per·se·cure·ly, adverbsu·per·se·cure·ness, nounun·se·cure, adjectiveun·se·cure·ly, adverbun·se·cure·ness, nounwell-se·cured, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unsecure

The gun and ammunition was unsecure and easily accessible, including to Galen [Victoria and Dennis' six year old daughter].
Explosive Hopper Divorce Doc|Jacob Bernstein|January 25, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I also located a loaded shotgun, unsecure, in our bedroom closet.
Explosive Hopper Divorce Doc|Jacob Bernstein|January 25, 2010|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for unsecure

secure

/ (sɪˈkjʊə) /

adjective

free from danger, damage, etc

free from fear, care, etc

in safe custody

not likely to fail, become loose, etc

able to be relied on; certaina secure investment

nautical stowed away or made inoperative

archaic careless or overconfident

verb

(tr) to obtain or get possession ofI will secure some good seats

(when intr, often foll by against) to make or become free from danger, fear, etc

(tr) to make fast or firm; fasten

(when intr, often foll by against) to make or become certain; guaranteethis plan will secure your happiness

(tr) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security

(tr) to make (a military position) safe from attack

nautical to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc

(tr) nautical to stow or make inoperativeto secure the radio

Derived Forms

securable, adjectivesecurely, adverbsecurement, nounsecureness, noun

securer, noun

Word Origin for secure

C16: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unsecure (1 of 3)

unsecure

adj.

1630s, from un- (1) "not" + secure (adj.).

Word Origin and History for unsecure (1 of 3)

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.

Word Origin and History for unsecure (2 of 3)

secure

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.