1. safety(n = noun.state) - the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions; "insure the safety of the children"; "the reciprocal of safety is risk"
is a kind of condition, status
has particulars: biosafety, risklessness, impregnability, invulnerability, salvation, security
Antonym: danger
2. safety(n = noun.location) refuge - a safe place; "He ran to safety"
is a kind of area, country
has particulars: harborage, harbourage
3. safety(n = noun.artifact) guard, safety device - a device designed to prevent injury or accidents;
is a kind of device
has particulars: fender, safety catch, safety lock
4. safety(n = noun.act) base hit - (baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely;
is a kind of hit
has particulars: home run, homer, bingle, single, double, two-bagger, two-base hit, two-baser, three-bagger, three-base hit, triple
5. safety(n = noun.artifact) condom, prophylactic, rubber, safe - contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse;
is a kind of birth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, preventative, preventive, prophylactic device
6. safety(n = noun.act) - a score in American football; a player is tackled behind his own goal line;
is a kind of score
1. The condition or state of being safe; freedom from danger or hazard; exemption from hurt, injury, or loss. [1913 Webster]
"Up led by thee,
Into the heaven I have presumed,
An earthly guest . . . With like safety guided down,
Return me to my native element." [1913 Webster]
2. Freedom from whatever exposes one to danger or from liability to cause danger or harm; safeness; hence, the quality of making safe or secure, or of giving confidence, justifying trust, insuring against harm or loss, etc. [1913 Webster]
"Would there were any safety in thy sex,
That I might put a thousand sorrows off,
And credit thy repentance!" [1913 Webster]
3. Preservation from escape; close custody. [1913 Webster]
"Imprison him, . . .
Deliver him to safety; and return." [1913 Webster]
4. the act or result of a ball-carrier on the offensive team being tackled behind his own goal line, or the downing of a ball behind the offensive team's own goal line when it had been carried or propelled behind that goal line by a player on the offensive tream; such a play causes a score of two points to be awarded to the defensive team; -- it is distinguished from
5. Short for Safety bicycle. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
6. a switch on a firearm that locks the trigger and prevents the firearm from being discharged unintentionally; -- also called
safety, n. (pl. -ies)
1 the condition of being safe; freedom from danger or risks.
2 (attrib.) a designating any of various devices for preventing injury from machinery (safety bar; safety lock). b designating items of protective clothing (safety helmet).
Idiom:
safety-belt
1 = seat-belt.
2 a belt or strap securing a person to prevent injury. safety-catch a contrivance for locking a gun-trigger or preventing the accidental operation of machinery. safety curtain a fireproof curtain that can be lowered to cut off the auditorium in a theatre from the stage.
safety factor (or factor of safety)
1 the ratio of a material's strength to an expected strain.
2 a margin of security against risks. safety film a cinematographic film on a slow-burning or non-flammable base. safety first a motto advising caution.
safety fuse
1 a fuse (see FUSE(2)) containing a slow-burning composition for firing detonators from a distance.
2 Electr. a protective fuse (see FUSE(1)). safety glass glass that will not splinter when broken. safety harness a system of belts or restraints to hold a person to prevent falling or injury. safety lamp a miner's lamp so protected as not to ignite firedamp. safety match a match igniting only on a specially prepared surface. safety net a net placed to catch an acrobat etc. in case of a fall. safety pin a pin with a point that is bent back to the head and is held in a guard when closed. safety razor a razor with a guard to reduce the risk of cutting the skin.
safety-valve
1 (in a steam boiler) a valve opening automatically to relieve excessive pressure.
2 a means of giving harmless vent to excitement etc. safety zone US an area of a road marked off for pedestrians etc. to wait safely.
Etymology:
ME sauvete f. OF sauvet{eacute} f. med.L salvitas -tatis f. L salvus (as SAFE)
N safety, security, surety, impregnability, invulnerability, invulnerableness, danger past, danger over, storm blown over, coast clear, escape, means of escape, blow valve, safety valve, release valve, sniffing valve, safeguard, palladium, guardianship, wardship, wardenship, tutelage, custody, safekeeping, preservation, protection, auspices, safe-conduct, escort, convoy, guard, shield, guardian angel, tutelary god, tutelary deity, tutelary saint, genius loci, protector, guardian, warden, warder, preserver, custodian, duenna, chaperon, third person, watchdog, bandog, Cerberus, watchman, patrolman, policeman, cop, dick, fuzz, smokey, peeler, zarp, sentinel, sentry, scout, garrison, guardship, refuge &c, anchor, precaution, quarantine, cordon sanitaire, confidence, protect, take care of, preserve, cover, screen, shelter, shroud, flank, ward, guard, secure, entrench, intrench, fence round, house, nestle, ensconce, take charge of, escort, convoy, garrison, watch, mount guard, patrol, make assurance doubly sure, take up a loose thread, take precautions, double reef topsails, seek safety, take shelter, find shelter, Adj, safe, secure, sure, in safety, in security, on the safe side, under the shield of, under the shade of, under the wing of, under the shadow of one's wing, under cover, under lock and key, out of danger, out of the woods, out of the meshes, out of harm's way, unharmed, unscathed, on sure ground, at anchor, high and dry, above water, unthreatened, unmolested, protected, cavendo tutus, panoplied, snug, seaworthy, weatherproof, waterproof, fireproof, defensible, tenable, proof against, invulnerable, unassailable, unattackable, impenetrable, impregnable, imperdible, inexpugnable, Achillean, safe and sound, scathless, unhazarded, not dangerous, unthreatening, harmless, friendly (cooperative), protecting, protective, guardian, tutelary, preservative, trustworthy, ex abundanti cautela, with impunity, all's well, salva res est, suave mari magno, a couvert, e terra alterius spectare laborem, Dieu vous garde.
factor of safety, federal job safety law, margin of safety, occupational safety and health act, occupational safety and health administration, safety arch, safety belt, safety bicycle, safety bike, safety blitz, safety bolt, safety catch, safety chain, safety curtain, safety deposit box, safety device, safety factor, safety feature, safety fuse, safety glass, safety harness, safety hat, safety island, safety isle, safety lamp, safety lock, safety margin, safety match, safety net, safety nut, safety pin, safety rail, safety razor, safety squeeze, safety squeeze play, safety valve, safety zone