2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Security  \Se*cu"ri*ty\,  n.;  pl  {Securities}.  [L.  securitas:  cf 
  F.  s['e]curit['e].  See  {Secure},  and  cf  {Surety}.] 
  1.  The  condition  or  quality  of  being  secure;  secureness. 
  Specifically: 
  a  Freedom  from  apprehension,  anxiety,  or  care 
  confidence  of  power  of  safety;  hence  assurance; 
  certainty. 
 
  His  trembling  hand  had  lost  the  ease,  Which 
  marks  security  to  please.  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
  b  Hence  carelessness;  negligence;  heedlessness. 
 
  He  means  my  lord,  that  we  are  too  remiss, 
  Whilst  Bolingbroke,  through  our  security,  Grows 
  strong  and  great  in  substance  and  in  power. 
  --Shak. 
  c  Freedom  from  risk;  safety. 
 
  Give  up  yourself  merely  to  chance  and  hazard, 
  From  firm  security.  --Shak. 
 
  Some  .  .  .  alleged  that  we  should  have  no 
  security  for  our  trade  --Swift. 
 
  2.  That  which  secures  or  makes  safe;  protection;  guard; 
  defense.  Specifically: 
  a  Something  given  deposited,  or  pledged,  to  make 
  certain  the  fulfillment  of  an  obligation,  the 
  performance  of  a  contract,  the  payment  of  a  debt,  or 
  the  like  surety;  pledge. 
 
  Those  who  lent  him  money  lent  it  on  no  security 
  but  his  bare  word  --Macaulay. 
  b  One  who  becomes  surety  for  another,  or  engages  himself 
  for  the  performance  of  another's  obligation. 
 
  3.  An  evidence  of  debt  or  of  property,  as  a  bond,  a 
  certificate  of  stock,  etc.;  as  government  securities. 
 
  Syn:  Protection;  defense;  guard;  shelter;  safety;  certainty; 
  ease;  assurance;  carelessness;  confidence;  surety; 
  pledge;  bail. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  security 
  n  1:  the  state  of  being  free  from  danger  or  injury;  "we  support 
  the  armed  services  in  the  name  of  national  security" 
  [ant:  {insecurity}] 
  2:  a  formal  declaration  that  documents  a  fact  of  relevance  to 
  finance  and  investment;  the  holder  has  a  right  to  receive 
  interest  or  dividends;  "he  held  several  valuable 
  securities"  [syn:  {certificate}] 
  3:  a  department  responsible  for  the  security  of  the 
  institutions  property  and  workers;  "the  head  of  security 
  was  a  former  policeman" 
  4:  measures  taken  as  a  precaution  against  theft  or  espionage  or 
  sabotage  etc.;  "military  security  has  been  stepped  up 
  since  the  recent  uprising"  [syn:  {security  measures}] 
  5:  defense  against  financial  failure;  "his  pension  gave  him 
  security  in  his  old  age";  "insurance  provided  protection 
  against  loss  of  wages  due  to  illness"  [syn:  {protection}] 
  6:  freedom  from  anxiety  or  fear;  "the  watch  dog  gave  her  a 
  feeling  of  security" 
  7:  an  electrical  device  that  sets  off  an  alarm  when  someone 
  tries  to  break  in  [syn:  {security  system},  {security 
  measures}] 
  8:  property  that  your  creditor  can  claim  in  case  you  default  on 
  your  obligation;  "bankers  are  reluctant  to  lend  without 
  good  security"  [syn:  {surety}] 
  9:  a  guarantee  that  an  obligation  will  be  met  [syn:  {surety}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words