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secret

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noun [countable] American English pronunciation: secret /ˈsikrət/ 
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singularsecret
pluralsecrets
  1. 1
    a piece of information that is known by only a small number of people, and is deliberately not told to other people

    It cannot remain a secret much longer.

    I can’t tell you what she said – it’s a secret.

    He was accused of selling business secrets to competitors.

    Your secret is safe with me (=I will not tell anyone).

    The secret is out (=everyone knows about it).

    keep a secret (=not tell anyone):

    Can you promise to keep a secret?

    keep something a secret (from someone):

    Mandela kept his work a secret from the prison authorities.

    let someone in on a secret (=tell someone a secret):

    Listen, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  secretThesaurus entry for this meaning of secret
  2. 2
    [usually plural] something that cannot be explained or that is difficult to understand

    What secrets of the universe will the new telescope reveal?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  secretThesaurus entry for this meaning of secret
  3. 3
    a particular way of achieving something

    She always looks so slim – I wish I knew her secret.

    The secret is always to warm the pot before putting in the tea.

    secret of:

    The secret of our success is having highly skilled workers.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  secretThesaurus entry for this meaning of secret

phrases

This is the American English definition of secret. View British English definition of secret.

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