safe
To make something secure or to put a device into a state where it cannot cause accidental harm. It is most commonly used in technical, mechanical, or military contexts to describe deactivating a system.
Examples
3 of 5Please safe the equipment after you finish the repair work.
Please make the equipment secure after you finish the repair work.
The protocol requires the technician to safe the reactor before inspection.
The rules require the technician to secure the reactor before looking at it.
Just safe the gear and let's go home.
Just secure the equipment and let's go home.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Imagine putting a 'safe' lock on a machine; you are 'safing' it.
Quick Quiz
The engineer was asked to ___ the power grid before the storm arrived.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
Please safe the equipment after you finish the repair work.
everydayPlease make the equipment secure after you finish the repair work.
The protocol requires the technician to safe the reactor before inspection.
formalThe rules require the technician to secure the reactor before looking at it.
Just safe the gear and let's go home.
informalJust secure the equipment and let's go home.
It is essential to safe all laboratory instruments to prevent data loss.
academicIt is very important to secure all lab tools to stop data from being lost.
Management expects employees to safe their workstations every evening.
businessManagers expect workers to secure their work areas every night.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
fail-safe
a system that returns to a safe state if it fails
safe-keep
to keep something in a secure place
safe-handling
the act of moving things in a secure way
Often Confused With
Save is used for rescuing people or storing files; safe as a verb is rare and means to make a device secure.
Usage Notes
Using 'safe' as a verb is very rare in general English. It is mostly used by engineers or soldiers when talking about making machines or weapons secure.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'I will safe the file' when they should say 'I will save the file.'
Memory Tip
Imagine putting a 'safe' lock on a machine; you are 'safing' it.
Word Origin
From the Middle English word 'sauf', derived from the Latin 'salvus', meaning healthy, whole, or secure.
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
The engineer was asked to ___ the power grid before the storm arrived.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
overall
B2Describing the total or general nature of something when all parts or factors are considered together. It refers to the whole of a situation rather than specific details or individual components.
overlap
B2To cover part of the same area of space or time as something else, or to have some common qualities or features. It describes situations where two things occupy the same physical space partially or where two events happen simultaneously for a period.
overseas
B2Relating to, coming from, or situated in a country across the sea or ocean. It is used to describe international contexts, particularly travel, trade, or living arrangements in a foreign land.
panel
B2A panel is a small group of people brought together to discuss a specific topic, provide expert advice, or make decisions. It can also refer to a distinct, flat, and often rectangular section of a larger surface, such as a wall, door, or control board.
parameter
B2A parameter is a limit or boundary that defines the scope of a particular process, system, or activity. In technical or mathematical contexts, it refers to a measurable factor that sets the conditions of an operation.
passive
B2Describing someone who allows things to happen or accepts what others do without resistance or participation. It is also used in grammar to describe a sentence structure where the subject is the recipient of the action rather than the performer.
persist
B2To continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action despite difficulty, opposition, or failure. It also refers to a state or condition that continues to exist or endure over a prolonged period.
philosophy
B2Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. It also refers to a specific set of beliefs, values, or principles that guide the behavior and outlook of an individual or an organization.
portion
B2A portion is a part of a whole that has been divided or allocated to a specific person or purpose. It is most commonly used to describe a serving of food or a specific share of a larger amount, such as money or time.
pose
B2To present or constitute a problem, danger, or challenge that needs to be addressed. It also refers to the physical act of assuming a specific position for a photograph, painting, or artistic work.
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