safe

Etymology

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).

adj

1. Not in danger; out of harm's reach.
   You’ll be safe here.
2. Free from risk.
   It’s safe to eat this.
   When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess
3. Providing protection from danger; providing shelter.
   We have to find a safe spot, where we can hide out until this is over.
4. (baseball) When a batter successfully reaches first base, or when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base or returns to the base he last occupied; not out.
   The pitcher attempted to pick off the runner at first, but he was safe.
5. (snooker, of an object ball) In a location that renders it difficult to hit with the cue ball.
6. Properly secured.
   The documents are safe.
7. (used after a noun, often forming a compound) Not susceptible to a specified source of harm.
   dishwasher-safe
8. (UK, slang) Great, cool, awesome, respectable; a term of approbation, often as interjection.
   and you also forgot to mentioned the wheels man you know bmw playing / ragga jungle hip hop tunes / and on the mobile / yeah safe! / nice one / later August 12 1996, "Mandrake", “Re: Multiple Messages - an apology”, in uk.people.gothic (Usenet)
   Young Mal: Yu can’t. Irie means yer cool, yer safe, everything awright. 1996 or 1997, Roy Williams, Plays 1: The No Boys Cricket Club / Startstruck / Lift Off, Methuen, published 2002, page 165
   “If you need more, just ring, yeah?” Punch said. “Safe,” Brian answered. 2000, Teddy Hayes, Dead by Popular Demand, Justin, Charles & Co., published 2005, Chapter 14, page 134
   They end the call. Fami goes over to Paul. They touch hands.¶ Femi: Yeah, safe man. 2002, Danny Braverman, Playing a Part: Drama and Citizenship, Trentham Books, One Thursday — a short play, page 62
   “Yeah, safe mate, wassup?” says one hoodie, who should at least be credited with attempting a more detailed sentence construction. 2013, Steve Carter, Love, Sex and Tesco's Finest Cava, page 169
   Dom (David Jonsson): Hey, love the photos. They're just so— Nathan (Simon Manyonda): Safe. 2023, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia, directed by Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane
9. (slang) Lenient, usually describing a teacher that is easy-going.
10. Reliable; trusty.
11. Cautious.
12. (programming) Of a programming language, type-safe or more generally offering well-defined behavior despite programming errors.

noun

1. A box, usually made of metal, in which valuables can be locked for safekeeping.
2. (slang) A condom.
   She'd better have an arsenal of Trojans in her purse just in case he wasn't carrying a safe in his back pocket. 1999, Rita Ciresi, Pink Slip, Delta, published 1999, page 328
3. (dated) A ventilated or refrigerated chest or closet for securing provisions from noxious animals or insects.
4. (dated, colloquial) A safety bicycle.

verb

1. (transitive) To make something safe.
   It just trails behind the pylon until I land, then Cramer removes it when he safes the rocket pods. No evidence of anything when I taxi back inside the compound. 2007, Rocky Raab, Mike Five Eight: Air War Over Cambodia: Air War Over Cambodia
   One of the most important events after touchdown will be to safe the Dauntless, which will include purging the engines and shutting down the landing systems […] 2012, Erik Seedhouse, Interplanetary Outpost