26984 words

secure

22 definitions • 46 examples
1
positioned or fixed firmly and correctly and therefore not likely to move, fall, or break:

Examples:

That ladder doesn't look very secure to me.
Check that all windows and doors are secure.
2
likely to continue and not fail or be lost:

Examples:

Her promotion has made her position in the company more secure.
The museum has been promised $22 million by the government, so its future is relatively secure.
She's just left a secure job to start her own company.
3
(especially of objects, situations, etc.) able to avoid being harmed by any risk, danger, or threat:

Examples:

Car manufacturers ought to produce vehicles that are more secure against theft.
Endangered species need to be kept secure from poachers.
We've done everything we can to make the house as secure as possible.
4
(of a computer or phone connection, etc.) safe or protected, for example against someone stealing information:

Examples:

He spoke to the president on a secure phone line.
5
A secure place is one that it is difficult to get out of or escape from:

Examples:

He killed the man just a month after his release from a secure psychiatric hospital.
At the age of 14 he was placed in secure accommodation.
6
not doubting or being worried about yourself and your personal relationships:

Examples:

Children need to feel secure in order to do well at school.
7
to get something, sometimes with difficulty:

Examples:

He was disappointed by his failure to secure the top job with the bank.
The change in the law will make it harder for the police to secure convictions.
8
to make certain something is protected from danger or risk:

Examples:

The building has only one main entrance and would be easy to secure (against/from intruders).
This form of investment is an excellent way of securing your children's financial future.
9
to make certain that money that has been lent will be paid back, by giving the person who lends the money the right to own property belonging to the person who borrows it, if the money is not paid back:

Examples:

Her bank loan is secured against/by/on her house.
10
to fasten one object firmly to another:

Examples:

The gate won't stay open, so we'll have to secure it to that post.
11
free from risk and the threat of change for the worse:

Examples:

a secure job
People want to feel secure economically.
The museum has a large endowment, so its future is relatively secure.
12
Secure can also mean confident and free from worry:

Examples:

Children need to feel secure in order to do well at school.
13
free from danger or the threat of harm or unwanted access; safe:

Examples:

Troops were sent to make the border secure.
He questioned whether the government’s computer database was secure from hackers.
For some time after the robbery we could not feel secure, even in our own home.
14

Examples:

That ladder doesn’t look very secure to me.
Just check that the door is secure – the lock doesn’t always work.
15
to obtain something, sometimes with difficulty:

Examples:

She managed to secure a loan from the bank.
16
to fasten something firmly:

Examples:

Secure the boat to the dock.
17
to make sure something is protected from danger or threat:

Examples:

The wall was originally built to secure the town from attack.
18
to manage to get money or achieve something, often something difficult:

Examples:

secure financing/a loan/a grant They hope to secure a $500,000 federal grant to cover some of the development costs.
secure a deal/contract/commitment
secure a win/victory
The Chinese bank secured $3.5 billion in offers within the first few days of its flotation.
19
to borrow money from a person or organization by agreeing that they can have your property or assets if you cannot pay it back:

Examples:

secure sth against/on sth The extra debt will be raised by selling bonds secured on the hotel and restaurant assets.
He had used the boat as collateral to secure a $10,000 loan.
20
to protect something from risk or threat:

Examples:

This investment is a good way of securing your family's financial future.
Cost savings will help secure jobs by improving competitiveness.
Police were quick to secure the area when they received the warning of a terrorist attack.
21
if someone's future, investment, or job is secure, they feel confident that it will continue and not fail or be lost:

Examples:

Although the high returns of recent years cannot continue indefinitely, many still see property as a secure investment.
Executives reassured existing employees that their jobs are secure.
22
safe and protected from the risk of an attack or crime:

Examples:

a secure line/network/site
a secure area/building

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