secure
secure — adjective
1. 固定牢固的，不會移動或掉落（held in place so that it will not come loose or drop）
固定牢固的，不會移動或掉落（held in place so that it will not come loose or drop）
Make sure the shelf is secure before placing heavy books on it.
secure before [action]: check stability in advance
The roof tiles were not secure after the storm loosened them.
Roya checked that the rope around the box was secure before shipping it.
Kemi tested the ladder before climbing it to make sure each step was secure.
- secure footing
- secure hold
- secure grip
- secure position
- loose
opposite meaning — not firmly fixed or attached
Grammar Patterns
be + securely + fastened/mounted
Usage Note
Commonly used after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem' to describe the state of an object.
Common Mistakes
2. 穩定的，可靠的，不太可能失敗或失去的（likely to continue without failing or being lost; dependable）
穩定的，可靠的，不太可能失敗或失去的（likely to continue without failing or being lost; dependable）
After years of freelancing, Mira finally found a secure job with a steady income.
secure + job: reliable employment
A secure internet connection is essential for video calls.
The company's financial future looks secure after the new investment.
Mateo wants a secure pension that will support him after he retires.
- secure job
- secure future
- secure income
- secure supply
- unstable
the opposite of stable/dependable
- precarious
formal; describes a situation at risk of collapsing
Grammar Patterns
secure + job/future/income
Usage Note
Collocates strongly with nouns like 'job', 'future', 'income', 'supply', 'connection'.
Common Mistakes
3. 安全的，免受危險或威脅的（protected from harm, attack, or loss; safe）
安全的，免受危險或威脅的（protected from harm, attack, or loss; safe）
Keep your passport in a secure place when you travel.
secure + place: where items are safe
The village was secure against flooding after the new dam was built.
secure against [risk]: protected from a specific danger
Wei felt secure knowing that the doors were all locked at night.
Imani keeps her jewellery in a secure box hidden inside the wardrobe.
- secure from attack
- secure against theft
- feel secure
- secure environment
- vulnerable
exposed to danger or attack
- unsafe
not safe, at risk
Grammar Patterns
secure + from/against + [danger]
Usage Note
Can be followed by 'from' or 'against' to specify the danger: 'secure from attack', 'secure against theft'.
Common Mistakes
4. 安全加密的，受保護的（of a computer, connection, or network — safe against unauthorised acc
安全加密的，受保護的（of a computer, connection, or network — safe against unauthorised access, theft of information, or hacking）
Always use a secure connection when accessing your online bank account.
secure + connection: online safety
The company moved all customer data to a secure server.
Jenna received a warning that the website was not secure.
Christopher changed all his passwords after learning the network was not secure.
- secure connection
- secure server
- secure network
- secure website
- secure payment
- insecure
not protected, vulnerable to attacks
Grammar Patterns
secure + [connection/system/server]
Usage Note
In computing, 'secure' often refers to encryption protocols (HTTPS, SSL/TLS). A 'secure website' uses HTTPS encryption.
5. 難以逃脫的，戒備森嚴的（of a place — difficult to leave or escape from）
難以逃脫的，戒備森嚴的（of a place — difficult to leave or escape from）
The prisoner was moved to a secure unit with higher walls and more guards.
secure unit: place designed to prevent escape
Children in the secure ward could only play outside under supervision.
Stefan's hospital room was a secure facility for patients needing close observation.
Minh was held in a secure centre while the authorities decided on his case.
- secure unit
- secure ward
- secure facility
- secure accommodation
- open
accessible, not restricting movement
Grammar Patterns
secure + [place: prison/room/wing]
Usage Note
Typically describes prisons, psychiatric wards, or detention centres where keeping people inside is the main concern.
6. 感到安心自信的，沒有疑慮的（feeling confident and free from doubt or worry about yourself or y
感到安心自信的，沒有疑慮的（feeling confident and free from doubt or worry about yourself or your relationships）
Children who grow up with loving parents feel more secure in their relationships.
feel secure in [relationships]: emotional confidence
Mira felt secure about her decision to change careers.
The team's star player seemed completely secure in her abilities before the match.
Paul felt secure in his marriage after years of trust and open communication.
- feel secure
- secure in the knowledge that
- secure about the future
Grammar Patterns
feel secure + about/in + [something]
Usage Note
Often used with 'feel' and a preposition ('about', 'in') to indicate the source of confidence. Distinct from sense 3: this is emotional safety, not physical safety.
Common Mistakes
7. 財務穩健的，無損失風險的（financially sound; carrying no serious risk of loss）
財務穩健的，無損失風險的（financially sound; carrying no serious risk of loss）
Most retirees want a secure investment that will not lose value over time.
secure + investment: low-risk financial product
David felt financially secure after paying off all his debts.
The pension fund was invested in secure government bonds.
Wren prefers secure savings accounts over risky stock market investments.
- financially secure
- secure investment
- secure retirement
- secure income
Grammar Patterns
financially secure
secure + [investment/retirement/income]
Usage Note
Often modified by 'financially' or 'economically' to clarify the domain. A 'secure investment' typically carries low risk, though returns may also be lower.
secure — verb
1. （經過努力）獲得、取得（to get or obtain something, often after putting in effort）
（經過努力）獲得、取得（to get or obtain something, often after putting in effort）
The charity secured enough donations to build a new school in the village.
secure + [funding/donations]: obtain through effort
Jason secured a place at the university after months of preparation.
The startup finally secured a loan from the bank to expand its business.
Joon secured a promotion after leading the team through a difficult project.
- secure funding
- secure a place
- secure approval
- secure a contract
- secure a loan
- lose
to fail to keep or obtain
Grammar Patterns
secure + [noun: funding/approval/victory]
Usage Note
Frequently used with nouns like 'funding', 'approval', 'support', 'contract', 'place', 'victory'. More formal than 'get'.
Common Mistakes
2. 保護、使安全（to protect something from danger, risk, or attack）
保護、使安全（to protect something from danger, risk, or attack）
The army was sent to secure the border against enemy forces.
secure + [place] + against/from + [threat]
Parents should secure their homes to protect young children from accidents.
Nikhil installed a fence to secure the garden from wild animals.
Iris secured the documents by locking them in a fireproof safe.
- secure a building
- secure the area
- secure against attack
- secure from harm
- expose
to leave unprotected against danger
Grammar Patterns
secure + [object] + from/against + [danger]
Usage Note
Often takes a prepositional phrase with 'from' or 'against' to specify the threat. Also used reflexively: 'secure oneself against'.
3. 以財產作為貸款抵押擔保（to guarantee repayment of a loan by giving the lender the right to t
以財產作為貸款抵押擔保（to guarantee repayment of a loan by giving the lender the right to take specified property if the borrower fails to repay）
The Nguyen family secured the loan against their family home.
secure + [loan] + against + [property]: use as collateral
The business owner secured a line of credit with the company's equipment as collateral.
Saira secured her debt by offering her car as a guarantee to the bank.
Zayd had to secure the business loan with his personal savings and property.
- secure a loan
- secure against property
- secure debt
- secured creditor
- guarantee
broader — can apply to any promise; 'secure' in finance specifically involves property as collateral
Grammar Patterns
secure + [loan/debt] + with/against + [property]
Usage Note
Distinguish from verb sense 1: here 'secure' means 'provide collateral for', not 'obtain'. The loan itself is being secured, not obtained.
Common Mistakes
4. 固定、繫緊（to firmly fasten one object to another so that it cannot move or come loos
固定、繫緊（to firmly fasten one object to another so that it cannot move or come loose）
The carpenter secured the wooden leg to the table with strong glue.
secure + [object] + to + [surface] + with + [tool/material]
Make sure you secure the tent ropes firmly into the ground.
Élise secured the ladder to the roof before climbing up to fix the tiles.
Kevin secured the loose shutter to the window frame with a metal bracket.
- secure to
- secure with
- secure in place
- securely fastened
- loosen
to make less tight or firm
Grammar Patterns
secure + [object] + to/onto/with + [fastener]
Usage Note
Common prepositional patterns: 'secure A to B' (attach), 'secure A with B' (using a tool/material), 'secure A in/into place'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/3
'Safe' is the most general word — it describes a state of not being in danger, whether temporary or permanent ('The children are safe at school'). 'Secure' goes further, implying deliberate measures have been taken to ensure safety over time ('a secure building with cameras and locks'). 'Protected' focuses on active defence or shielding from a specific threat ('protected against viruses'), while 'guarded' specifically involves human or physical supervision ('a guarded entrance'). In everyday speech, 'safe' and 'secure' are often interchangeable for physical safety ('feel safe/secure'), but 'secure' is preferred for digital contexts ('secure connection') and financial contexts ('secure investment') where 'safe' sounds less natural.
Common collocations
Adverbs
Phrases
- in a secure place
- feel secure about
- secure in the knowledge that
Etymology
The word 'secure' came into English through Latin 'securus', meaning 'free from care' ('se-' = without, 'cura' = care). It first appeared in English around the 1530s with the meaning 'feeling no fear or anxiety'. By the 1600s, it developed the physical sense of 'firmly fixed' and the protective sense of 'free from danger'. The verb meaning 'to obtain' emerged in the 1700s, extending from the idea of making something safe or certain.