Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » second

second

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of second is the next in order after the first.

(adjective)

An example of someone who is second is the person who finished the race just after the winner.

Second is defined as a repeat of something you’ve already done.

(noun)

An example of second is the next trip taken to the buffet.

The definition of a second is a small bit of time, with 60 seconds making up one minute.

(noun)

An example of a second is the time it takes you to say Mississippi.

To second is to support someone’s nomination or idea.

(verb)

An example of to second is to support someone’s suggestion and move on to a vote.

See second in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

coming next after the first in order of place or time; 2d or 2nd
another; other; additional; supplementary: to take a second helping
being of the same kind as another; resembling a given original: a second Shakespeare
alternate; other: every second day
next below the first in rank, power, value, merit, excellence, etc.
inferior; subordinate; secondary
Music
1. lower in pitch
2. playing or singing a part that is lower in pitch

Origin: ME secunde < OFr < L secundus, following, second < sequi, to follow: see sequent

noun

the next after the first
any person, thing, class, place, etc. that is second
an article of merchandise that falls below the standard set for first quality
1. a kind of coarse flour
2. bread made from this
an aide or official assistant, esp. to one of the principals in a duel or boxing match
the second forward gear of a transmission: it provides more speed but less torque than first
the act or an instance of seconding
a second helping of something to eat
☆ Baseball second base
Music
1. the second tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone one degree above or below any given tone in such a scale
2. the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them
3. the second part in a harmonized composition, esp. the alto
4. an instrument or voice taking this part

transitive verb

to act as an aide or second to; aid; assist
to give support or encouragement to; further; reinforce
to indicate formally one's approval or support of (a motion, nomination, etc.) as a necessary preliminary to discussion of or a vote on it

adverb

in the second place, rank, group, etc.
next to or next after: the second last row

Related Forms:

seconder noun

transitive verb

to transfer (a military officer) from regular service to special service, civil or military
to transfer (an official, employee, etc.) to a temporary assignment

Origin: < Fr en second, in second position

Related Forms:

secondment noun

noun

1. of a minute of time
2. the basic unit of time in the SI, MKS, CGS, or FPS systems: redefined in 1967 so that it is now based on the periodic oscillations of an atomic clock which uses cesium atoms and has a resonance frequency of 9,192,631,770 hertz: abbrev. s
of a minute of angular measurement: symbol, ″
a very short period of time; moment; instant
a specific point in time

Origin: ME seconde < ML (pars minuta) secunda, second (small part): from being a further division (i.e., beyond the minute) < L secundus: see second

See second in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Abbr. sec.
a. A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
b. The time needed for a cesium-133 atom to perform 9,192,631,770 complete oscillations. See Table at measurement.
A brief interval of time; a moment. See Synonyms at moment.
Abbr. s Mathematics A unit of angular measure equal to one sixtieth of a minute.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English seconde

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin (pars minūta) secunda, second (small part)

Origin: , feminine of Latin secundus, second, following; see second²

adjective

Coming next after the first in order, place, rank, time, or quality.
a. Repeating an initial instance: a second chance.
b. Reminiscent of one that is well known: a second George Washington; a second Waterloo.
c. Alternate; other: every second year.
Inferior to another; subordinate: second vice president at the bank; a leader second to none.
Music
a. Having a lower pitch.
b. Singing or playing a part having a lower range.
Having the second-highest ratio. Used of gears in a sequence.

noun

a. The ordinal number matching the number 2 in a series.
b. One of two equal parts.
One that is next in order, place, time, or quality after the first.
An article of merchandise of inferior quality. Often used in the plural.
The official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match. See Synonyms at assistant.
Music
a. The interval between consecutive tones on the diatonic scale.
b. A tone separated by this interval from another tone.
c. A combination of two such tones in notation or in harmony.
d. The second part, instrument, or voice in a harmonized composition.
An utterance of endorsement, as to a parliamentary motion.
The transmission gear or gear ratio used to produce forward speeds higher than those of first and lower than those of third in a motor vehicle.
or seconds Informal A second serving of food.
Baseball Second base.

transitive verb sec·ond·ed, sec·ond·ing, sec·onds

To attend (a duelist or a boxer) as an aide or assistant.
To promote or encourage; reinforce.
To endorse (a motion or nomination) as a required preliminary to discussion or vote.
(sĭ-kŏndˈ) Chiefly British To transfer (a military officer, for example) temporarily.

adverb