se |cret wea p|on (secret weapons ) N‑COUNT Someone's secret weapon is a thing or person which they believe will help them achieve something and which other people do not know about. □ Discipline was the new coach's secret weapon.
sect /se kt/ (sects ) N‑COUNT A sect is a group of people that has separated from a larger group and has a particular set of religious or political beliefs.
sec|tar|ian /sekteə riən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sectarian means resulting from the differences between different religions. □ He was the fifth person to be killed in sectarian violence.
sec|tari|an|ism /sekteə riən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Sectarianism is strong support for the religious or political group you belong to, and often involves conflict with other groups. □ …political rivalry and sectarianism within our movement.
sec|tion ◆◆◇ /se kʃ ə n/ (sections , sectioning , sectioned )
1 N‑COUNT A section of something is one of the parts into which it is divided or from which it is formed. □ [+ of ] He acknowledged that his family belonged to a section of society known as 'the idle rich'. □ They moulded a complete new bow section for the boat. □ …a large orchestra, with a vast percussion section. □ …the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.
2 → see also cross-section
3 VERB [usu passive] If something is sectioned , it is divided into sections. □ [be V -ed] It holds vegetables in place while they are being peeled or sectioned.
4 N‑COUNT A section of an official document such as a report, law, or constitution is one of the parts into which it is divided. □ [+ of ] …section 14 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
5 N‑COUNT A section is a diagram of something such as a building or a part of the body. It shows how the object would appear to you if it were cut from top to bottom and looked at from the side. □ For some buildings a vertical section is more informative than a plan.
6 Caesarean section → see Caesarean
▸ section off PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If an area is sectioned off , it is separated by a wall, fence, or other barrier from the surrounding area. □ [be V -ed P ] The kitchen is sectioned off from the rest of the room by a half wall. [Also V n P , V P n]
sec|tion|al /se kʃən ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Sectional interests are those of a particular group within a community or country. □ He criticized the selfish attitude of certain sectional interests.
sec|tor ◆◆◇ /se ktə r / (sectors )
1 N‑COUNT A particular sector of a country's economy is the part connected with that specified type of industry. □ …the nation's manufacturing sector.
2 → see also private sector , public sector
3 N‑COUNT A sector of a large group is a smaller group which is part of it. □ [+ of ] The pitfalls of mass immigration disproportionately affect the poorest sector of the population.
4 N‑COUNT A sector is an area of a city or country which is controlled by a military force. □ [+ of ] Officers were going to retake sectors of the city.
5 N‑COUNT A sector is a part of a circle which is formed when you draw two straight lines from the centre of the circle to the edge. [TECHNICAL ]
sec|tor|al /se ktər ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Sectoral means relating to the various economic sectors of a society or to a particular economic sector. [TECHNICAL ] □ …sectoral differences within social classes.
secu|lar /se kjʊlə r / ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use secular to describe things that have no connection with religion. □ He spoke about preserving the country as a secular state.
secu|lar|ism /se kjʊlər I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Secularism is a system of social organization and education where religion is not allowed to play a part in civil affairs. ● secu|lar|ist (secularists ) N‑COUNT □ The country is being torn to pieces by conflict between fundamentalists and secularists.
secu|lar|ized /se kjʊləra I zd/ in BRIT, also use secularised ADJ Secularized societies are no longer under the control or influence of religion. □ The Pope had no great sympathy for the secularized West.
se|cure ◆◆◇ /s I kjʊə r / (secures , securing , secured )
1 VERB If you secure something that you want or need, you obtain it, often after a lot of effort. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Federal leaders continued their efforts to secure a ceasefire. □ [V n n] Graham's achievements helped secure him the job. [Also V n + for ]
2 VERB If you secure a place, you make it safe from harm or attack. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Staff withdrew from the main part of the prison but secured the perimeter.
3 ADJ A secure place is tightly locked or well protected, so that people cannot enter it or leave it. □ We shall make sure our home is as secure as possible from now on. ● se|cure|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ He locked the heavy door securely and kept the key in his pocket.
4 VERB If you secure an object, you fasten it firmly to another object. □ [V n] He helped her close the cases up, and then he secured the canvas straps.
5 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If an object is secure , it is fixed firmly in position. □ Check joints are secure and the wood is sound. ● se|cure|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Ensure that the frame is securely fixed to the ground with bolts.
6 ADJ If you describe something such as a job as secure , it is certain not to change or end. □ …trade union demands for secure wages and employment. □ …the failure of financial institutions once thought to be secure.