1249
security
charge of running a large organization, especially an international organization or a political party: the Secretary-General of the United Nations
,Secretary of 'State n 1 the US politician who is in charge of the STATE DEPARTMENT, the government department responsible for relations with foreign countries. In the UK there is a similar politician called the FOREIGN SECRETARY. 2 the politician who is in charge of a British government department. For example, the head of the Department of Health is called the Secretary of State for Health.
,secret 'drinker n a person who often drinks alcohol, but does not want other people to know this
secrete1 /sɪ'kri:t/ v [T] tech (especially of an animal or plant organ) to produce (a usually liquid substance): Tears are secreted by an organ under the upper eyelid. -> compare EXCRETE
secrete2 v [T] fml to put (something) where it cannot be seen or found; hide
se-cre-tion /sɪ'kri:ʃən/ n 1 [C;U] tech a) a usually liquid material produced by part of a plant or animal b) the production of such material 2 [U] fml the act of hiding something
se-cre-tive /'si:krɪtɪv, sɪ'kri:tɪv/ adj [(about)] often derog liking to keep one's thoughts, intentions, or actions hidden from other people ---ly adv ---ness n [U]
,secret po'lice n [(the)+sing./ pl. v] a government-controlled police force that acts in secret, especially against political enemies of the government. They usually operate in countries which are not DEMOCRATIC.
,secret 'service n 1 BrE, not tech a government organization which tries to get secret information about other countries. The British MI5 and the American CIA are secret services. 2 AmE a government department dealing with special kinds of police work, especially protecting high government officials
,secret so'ciety n a group of people who have come together for some common purpose (e.g. religious, magical, social, or political) which uses special secret words and signs and makes special promises and keeps its activities secret. One of these societies in Britain and the US is the FREEMASONS.
sect /sekt/ n often derog a small group of people with their own particular set of beliefs and practices, usually within or separated from a larger especially religious group: a breakaway sect
sec-tar-i-an /sek'teəriən/ adj usually derog of or between one or more sects, especially as shown in great strength and narrowness of beliefs: sectarian conflict/violence in Northern Ireland ---ism n [U]
sec-tion1 /'sekʃən/ n 1 [C(of)] a separate part of a larger object, place, group etc: the business section of a city | Few politicians are liked by all sections of the community. (=everyone) | She plays in the orchestra's brass section. (=those who play brass instruments) | a bookcase which comes apart into sections | Signals control each section of the railway track. | the aircraft's tail section | My section of the office deals with record-keeping. 2 [C] any of the equal parts into which some fruits, such as the orange, are naturally divided; SEGMENT 3 [C;U] a representation on paper of something as if it were cut either a) from top to bottom and looked at from the side or b) from one side to the other and looked at from the top: The architect drew the house in section. -> compare ELEVATION, PLAN; see also CROSS-SECTION 4 [C;U] tech (a) cutting by a doctor in an operation: First the surgeon performed the section of the blood vessel. (=cut it) 5 [C] (in MATHEMATICS) the figure formed by the points where a solid body is cut by a flat surface: conic sections 6 [C] a very thin flat piece cut from skin, a plant etc, to be looked at under a microscope
section2 v [T] tech 1 to cut or show a SECTION from 2 (of a doctor) to cut (a part of the body) in an operation
sec-tion-al /'sekʃənəl/ adj 1 [no comp.] made up of sections that can be put together or taken apart: sectional furniture 2 often derog limited to one particular group or area: sectional interests that have a divisive effect within the party (=small groups of people who try and get what they want rather than being loyal to the party as a whole) 3 [no comp.] of or based on a SECTION: a sectional view of the bands of rock in the earth
sec-tion-al-is-m /'sekʃənəlɪzəm/ n [U] often derog (too) great loyalty within only one section of a group
,Section 'Eight n AmE an order that someone should be dismissed from the US army because they are crazy. The character of Clinger in the television show M*A*S*H always dresses in women's clothes and pretends to be crazy because he wants to get a Section Eight.
sec-tor /'sektə/ n 1 a part of a field of activity, especially of business, trade etc: employment in the public and private sectors (=those controlled by the government, and by private business) | the banking sector | the electronics sector (=the companies that produce ELECTRONIC goods) 2 any of the parts into which an area is divided for the purpose of especially military control: the British sector in Berlin 3 tech an area in a circle enclosed by two straight lines drawn from the centre to the edge -> compare SEGMENT; see picture at DIAMETER
sec-u-lar /'sekjʊlə/ adj 1 not connected with or controlled by a church; not religious: secular music/education 2 encouraging or practising secularism: our modern secular society 3 (of a priest) living among ordinary people (rather than as a MONK) -> compare REGULAR
sec-u-lar-is-m /'sekjʊlərɪzəm/ n [U] a system of social organization which keeps out all forms of religion
sec-u-lar-ize also -ise BrE /'sekjʊləraɪz/ v [T] to make (more) secular, especially by removing from the control or influence of the church
se-cure1 /sɪ'kjuə/ adj 1 [(from, against)] safe; protected against danger or risk: a secure stronghold | secure from attack 2 closed, firm, or tight enough for safety: Make the window secure before leaving the house. 3 sure to be won or not to be lost; certain: His place in history is now secure. | Why do you want to be an actor? Why not get a secure job in the civil service? 4 having no doubt, fear, or anxiety: a secure family background | It may be some years before the new company can gain a secure foothold in the market. | He acted in the secure belief that he was right. | The little boy felt secure near his parents. -> opposite INSECURE (except 2) ---ly adv: securely locked and bolted
secure2 v [T] 1 to hold or close tightly: They secured the windows when the storm began. 2 [(from, against)] to make safe: Extra men are needed to secure the camp against attack. | new investment to secure the company's future 3 [(for)] fml to get, especially as the result of effort: He's managed to secure the release of the hostages. 4 to give a legal promise that (something) will be paid back: a secured loan
Se-cu-ri-cor /sɪ'kjuərɪkɔ:/ trademark a British SECURITY company which uses guarded vehicles to move money from shops, offices etc to banks
Securities and Exchange Commission, the abbrev. SEC a US government organization which makes sure that people and companies obey the laws about the sale of stocks (STOCK1) and bonds (BOND1)
Securities and Investments Board, the abbrev. SIB a British organization that makes sure INVESTMENT businesses in the UK work fairly and are not involved in dishonest business methods
se-cu-ri-ty /sɪ'kjuərɪti/ n 1 [U] the state of being secure: Once the jewels were safely locked up in the bank he had no more anxieties about their security. | the security of a good home and loving family 2 [U] a) protection against law-breaking, violence, enemy acts, escape from prison etc: For security reasons the passengers have to be searched. | Strict security measures were in force during the President's visit. | The terrorists somehow slipped through the tight security net. | a maximum security prison | The security forces/services (=police and army) were unable to keep order in the streets. | Security guards (=people employed to protect) stood around the president. | in the interests of state/national security | an airport security check b) [+sing./pl. v.] a department concerned with this: I'll have to inform Security about this. 3 [(from, against)] something which protects or makes secure: The money I've saved is my security against bad times in the future. 4 [U] valuable property promised to a lender