| safe | 1. 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." "They escaped all safe all safe to land." (Acts xxvii. 44) "Established in a safe, unenvied throne." (Milton) 2. 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." "The King of heaven hath doomed This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat." (Milton) 3. Incapable of doing harm; no longer dangerous; in secure care or custody; as, the prisoner is safe. "But Banquo's safe? Ay, my good lord, safe in a ditch he bides." (Shak) Safe hit, a hit which enables the batter to get to first base even if no error is made by the other side. 4. A place for keeping things in safety. Specifically: 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. A ventilated or refrigerated chest or closet for securing provisions from noxious animals or insects. Synonym: Secure, unendangered, sure. Origin: OE. Sauf, F. Sauf, fr. L. Salvus, akin to salus health, welfare, safety. Cf. Salute, Salvation, Sage a plant, Save, Salvo an exception. (26 Mar 1998) |
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| safe sex | Sexual practices that limit the risk of transmitting or acquiring an infectious disease via exchanges of semen, blood, and other bodily fluids, e.g., use of a condom, mutual masturbation, and avoidance of anal intercourse. (05 Mar 2000) |