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Definition of secure verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

secure

verb
 
/sɪˈkjʊə(r)/
 
/sɪˈkjʊr/
(formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they secure
 
/sɪˈkjʊə(r)/
 
/sɪˈkjʊr/
he / she / it secures
 
/sɪˈkjʊəz/
 
/sɪˈkjʊrz/
past simple secured
 
/sɪˈkjʊəd/
 
/sɪˈkjʊrd/
past participle secured
 
/sɪˈkjʊəd/
 
/sɪˈkjʊrd/
-ing form securing
 
/sɪˈkjʊərɪŋ/
 
/sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/
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    get something

  1. to obtain or achieve something, especially when this means using a lot of effort
    • secure something to secure a contract/deal/funding
    • The team managed to secure a place in the finals.
    • The team were unable to secure a victory.
    • She secured 2 000 votes.
    • The delegation has secured the promise of a ceasefire.
    • A production company secured the film rights to the biography.
    • They are contract workers unable to secure a full-time position.
    • Retailers will need to pay a higher price in order to secure supplies.
    • secure something for somebody/something/yourself He secured a place for himself at law school.
    • secure somebody/something/yourself something He secured himself a place at law school.
    Extra Examples
    • The party won 399 seats, thereby securing a majority in the Assembly.
    • They failed to secure the release of the prisoners.
    • This could improve your chances of securing employment.
    • Victory was not going to be easily secured.
    • He's just secured a $5 million contract.
    Topics Successb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • easily
    • safely
    • eventually
    verb + secure
    • be able to
    • manage to
    • fail to
    phrases
    • an attempt to secure something
    • an effort to secure something
    • be aimed at securing something
    See full entry
  2. fasten something

  3. to attach or fasten something so that it does not move
    • secure something to something She secured the rope firmly to the back of the car.
    • secure something He secured the boat with a rope.
    • The tables on board were secured firmly to the floor.
    Extra Examples
    • The crates had not been firmly secured to the truck.
    • The rail was secured with bolts.
    • Wrap a bandage around the arm and secure it with tape or a pin.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • properly
    • tightly
    preposition
    • to
    • with
    See full entry
  4. protect from harm

  5. to protect something so that it is safe and difficult to attack or damage
    • secure something against something to secure a property against intruders
    • secure something from something Have you properly secured your computer from viral attack?
    • (figurative) a savings plan that will secure your child’s future
    • secure something We must all do everything we can to secure our borders.
    • The windows were secured with locks and bars.
    Extra Examples
    • No home can be completely secured against intruders.
    • The government has deployed 35 000 troops in an effort to secure the border.
  6. a loan

  7. secure something to legally agree to give somebody property or goods that are worth the same amount as the money that you have borrowed from them, if you are unable to pay the money back
    • a loan secured on the house
See secure in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee secure in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
given
adjective
 
 
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