ENGLISH
REFERENCE

safe

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈseɪf// UK //sˈeɪf// safe Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. a strong metal box with a lock. You use it to keep money, jewelry, or important papers protected from fire and thieves.

n. a strong, lockable container designed to protect valuables from theft or environmental damage.


SIMPLE

He keeps his passport in a small safe under the bed.

CONTEXTUAL

The hotel provides a digital safe in every room so guests can secure their electronics and cash while they are out.

COMPLEX

The bank's primary vault contains hundreds of individual safes, each requiring two separate keys to open, ensuring that no single employee can access the contents alone.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic salwos, from Proto-Indo-European solh₂- (“whole, every”). Displaced native Old English sicor (secure, sure).

Usage

Commonly takes the preposition 'in' to describe the location of items.

Idioms2 entries

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