safe
/ˈseɪ̯f/ adjective, noun, verb, proper noun
Forms safer safest safes safing safed
- adjective Not in danger; out of harm's reach. “You’ll be safe from the storm here in the cabin.”
- adjective Free from risk. “It’s safe to eat this berry.”
- adjective Providing protection from danger; providing shelter. “We have to find a safe spot, where we can hide out until this is over.”
- adjective (baseball) When a batter successfully reaches first base, or when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base or returns to the base he last occupied; not out. “The pitcher attempted to pick off the runner at first, but he was safe.”
- adjective (snooker, of an object ball) In a location that renders it difficult to pot.
- adjective Properly secured. “The documents are safe inside the cabbinet.”
- adjective (used after a noun, often forming a compound) Not susceptible to a specified source of harm. “dishwasher-safe”
- adjective (UK, slang) Great, cool, awesome, respectable; a term of approbation, often as interjection.
- noun A box, usually made of metal, in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping.
- noun (slang) A condom.
- noun (dated) A ventilated or refrigerated chest or closet for securing provisions from noxious animals or insects.
- noun (dated, colloquial) A safety bicycle.
- verb (transitive) To make something safe.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Maries County, Missouri, United States.
Synonyms
riskless harmless secure wicked cool amazing astounding awe-inspiring awesome awful sensational awesomesauce based beatific bewildering blissful celestial delightful divine dope condom rubber safety prophylactic dependable good
Antonyms
harmful dangerous strict harsh intolerant unsafe hazardous out
Etymology
From Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic *salawos, from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole, every”).
Displaced Old English sicor (“secure, sure”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Free from harm, injury, or risk; untouched or unthreatened by danger or injury; unharmed; unhurt; secure; whole; as, safe from disease; safe from storms; safe from foes. "And ye dwelled safe." 1 Sam. xii. 11.
- adjective Conferring safety; securing from harm; not exposing to danger; confining securely; to be relied upon; not dangerous; as, a safe harbor; a safe bridge, etc. "The man of safe discretion." Shak.
- noun A place for keeping things in safety. Specifically: (a) A strong and fireproof receptacle (as a movable chest of steel, etc., or a closet or vault of brickwork) for money, valuable papers, or the like.
- verb To render safe; to make right. [Obs.] Shak.
Etymology [OE. sauf, F. sauf, fr. L. salvus, akin to salus health, welfare, safety. Cf. Salute, Salvation, Sage a plant, Save, Salvo an exception.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “safe”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details