security blanket
1250
in case repayment is not made or other conditions are not met: He got a big loan from the bank, but he had to put up his house as security. → compare GUARANTEE 5 [C usually pl.] an official piece of writing, especially a BOND or piece of STOCK, giving the owner the right to certain property: There has been heavy trading in government securities. → see also SOCIAL SECURITY
se'curity ,blanket n especially AmE 1 a BLANKET, soft toy etc which a small child likes to hold, often while sucking his thumb, and without which he will cry 2 anything which is treated like a security blanket: That pipe is my father's security blanket. | She carries that calculator everywhere, like a security blanket.
se'curity ,clearance n CLEARANCE
Se'curity ,Council, the the most powerful part of the UNITED NATIONS, which is responsible for making sure that countries behave peacefully towards each other, and for deciding what the United Nations should do if countries go to war. It is a committee of five permanent members (the US, the UK, Russia, France, and China) and ten other members who change every two years. Recently, many countries have suggested that there should be more permanent members of the Security Council, such as Japan and Germany. → compare GENERAL ASSEMBLY
se'curity ,guard n someone, usually at the entrance to or inside a building, who looks out for people who might be trying to do something harmful or wrong, often checking people's bags as they arrive
se'curity ,risk n a person whose loyalty or ability to keep secrets is doubtful and who cannot be given certain government jobs
se'curity ,service n a government organization which protects a country's secrets against enemy countries or protects the ruling group against attempts to remove it. MI5 in Britain and the CIA in the US are security services.
se·dan /sɪ'dæn/ n AmE & AustrE for SALOON
se·dan 'chair n an enclosed seat carried on poles by two people, one in front and one behind, used in former times for carrying a person through the streets
se·date¹ /sɪ'deɪt/ adj never showing hurry or excitement: a sedate seaside town where a lot of old people live | to proceed at a sedate pace —ly adv —ness n [U]
sedate² v [T often pass.] to cause (especially a person) to become sleepy or calm, especially with a sedative
se·da·tion /sɪ'deɪʃən/ n [U] (the causing of) a sleepy or calm state, especially with a sedative: She's been put under sedation and is resting quietly in bed.
sed·a·tive /'sedətɪv/ n, adj tech (a drug) that lessens nervousness, excitement, or pain and often causes sleep: Give the patient a sedative to help him sleep. | medicine with sedative effects
sed·en·ta·ry /'sedəntərɪl-terɪ/ adj 1 fml done while sitting down, and not giving one the chance to move about much: a sedentary job 2 tech not moving from one place to another; settled: a sedentary population
sedge /sedʒ/ n [U] a grasslike plant with three-sided stems growing usually in groups on low-lying wet ground —sedgy adj
sed·i·ment /'sedɪmənt/ n [S;U] solid material that settles at the bottom of a liquid: (a) brownish sediment in the bottom of the wine bottle | a pipe blocked by sediment → compare SLUDGE
sed·i·men·ta·ry /ˌsedɪ'mentərɪ / adj made of material from the earth that has been moved around and then left in a place by water or ice: sedimentary rock
sed·i·men·ta·tion /ˌsedɪmen'teɪʃən, -mən-/ n [U] the natural process by which bits of rock, earth etc, are gathered, moved around, and then left in a place by water or ice
se·di·tion /sɪ'dɪʃən/ n [U] especially law speaking, writing, or action intended to encourage people to disobey the government. In DEMOCRATIC countries where freedom of speech operates, this law is rarely used against people.
se·di·tious /sɪ'dɪʃəs/ adj especially law causing or likely to cause sedition: a seditious speech/speaker —ly adv
se·duce /sɪ'dju:s||-'du:s/ v [T] 1 to persuade (usually someone younger and with less sexual experience) to have sex with one 2 [+obj+adv/prep] to cause or persuade (someone) to do something, especially something unwise or rather bad; ENTICE: He was seduced into leaving the company by the offer of higher pay elsewhere. | The warm weather seduced me away from my studies. —ducer n
se·duc·tion /sɪ'dʌkʃən/ n 1 [C;U] (an act of) seducing: the seduction scene in Act Two of the opera 2 [C usually pl.] a thing or quality that attracts by its charm
se·duc·tive /sɪ'dʌktɪv/ adj very desirable or attractive; hard to refuse, especially sexually: her seductive voice | a seductive offer of higher pay —ly adv —ness n [U]
sed·u·lous /'sedjʊləs||'sedʒə-/ adj fml apprec showing careful attention, effort, and determination; ASSIDUOUS: a sedulous worker —ly adv
see² n the area governed by a BISHOP; DIOCESE → see also HOLY SEE
see¹ /si:/ v saw /sɔ:/, seen /si:n/ 1 [I not in progressive forms] to use the eyes; have or use the power of sight: He doesn't see very well with/in his right eye. | It was so dark I could hardly see (to do my work). | (fig.) She claims to see into the future. (=know what is going to happen) 2 [T not in progressive forms] to get sight of; notice, examine, or recognize by looking: I looked for her, but I couldn't see her in the crowd. | Can you see what's going on over there? | Let me see your ticket, please. | For more information, see (=look at) page 153. | [+(that)] I could see that they'd been crying. | Can you see where I put my glasses? | [+obj+V-ing] I saw him leave the house/saw him leaving the house. | [+obj+to-v; pass.] (fml) The dark-haired man was seen to leave the house. | It's not enough to make promises – they must be seen to be doing something about the problem. | [+obj+v-ed] He saw his own brother murdered by the terrorists. | I'll have to change my clothes before we go out – I don't want to be seen like this! 3 [T not in progressive forms] to have experience of; UNDERGO: You and I have seen some good times together. | This old house has seen better days. (=is in bad condition) | During the war he saw service in the Far East. 4 [T not in progressive forms] to understand or learn by looking, through experience etc; come to know: It took me a while to see the truth of her remarks. | Seeing his confusion, I offered to help. | [+(that)] I'm glad to see that you're enjoying your work. | I see in the paper (that) the government have done badly in the local elections. | [+wh-] It'll be interesting to see how he reacts to this. | 'I'm afraid I'm a bit late.' 'So I see.' 5 [I;T not in progressive forms] to recognize the meaning, purpose, or importance of; understand: 'Do you see what I mean?' 'Yes; now I see.' | She laughed politely even though she didn't see the joke. | I can't see the point of learning Latin if you're never going to use it. | She thinks it's too risky, and I must admit I can see her point. (=I understand why she thinks that) | I've tried to explain that we haven't got the money to do it, but he just won't see reason. (=accept that what I say is right) | [+wh-] I can't see why she's so against the idea. | [+(that)] The recipe says use cream, but I can't see that it matters. (=I don't think it does matter) 6 [T+obj+adv/prep; not in progressive forms] to regard or consider in a particular way: She sees this incident as further proof of his incompetence. (=thinks that it is further proof of this) | As I see it (=according to my view of the situation), the blame lies with the driver. | How do you see the current situation in the Middle East? (=what is your judgment of it?) | He sees things differently now that he's joined the management. | You must do whatever you see fit. (=consider right or sensible) 7 [T(as) not in progressive forms] to form a picture of (something or someone) in the mind; imagine; VISUALIZE: I can't see her as (=don't think it probable that she will become) a ballet dancer. | I see little hope of any improvement. | I can see a great future for you in music. | He kept telling me how useful his new invention would be, but I couldn't see it myself. (=it did not seem to me that it would be useful) | [+obj+v-ing] I can't see her lending me any money. (=I am sure she will not) 8 [I;T+wh-; obj;] to (try to) find out: I'm not sure if I can lend you that much money; I'll have to see. (=I'll decide later) | 'Can we go to the zoo, dad?' 'We'll see.' (=perhaps, but perhaps not) | I'll see what I can do/see what the trouble is. | If you can hang on for a moment, I'll see if she's in. | Let's see if we can (=let's try to) do it a bit better this time. 9 [T+(that); obj; not in progressive forms] to make sure; take care: See you're ready at 8 o'clock. | I promise to see that the job is done on time. 10 [T] to visit, meet, or receive as a visitor: The doctor can't see you yet: he's seeing someone else at the