| Library / English Dictionary |
FAIL-SAFE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A mechanism capable of returning to a safe state in case there is a failure or malfunction
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("fail-safe" is a kind of...):
mechanism (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Eliminating danger by compensating automatically for a failure or malfunction
Example:
a fail-safe device in a nuclear weapon to deactivate it automatically in the event of accident
Classified under:
Similar:
safe (free from danger or the risk of harm)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Guaranteed not to fail
Example:
a fail-safe recipe for cheese souffle
Classified under:
Similar:
secure (free from danger or risk)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
Present simple (first person singular and plural, second person singular and plural, third person plural) of the verb fail-safe
