second
second1 definition
sec·ond (sek′ənd)
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
- lower in pitch
- playing or singing a part that is lower in pitch
Etymology: 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
- a kind of coarse flour
- 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
- the second tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone one degree above or below any given tone in such a scale
- the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them
- the second part in a harmonized composition, esp. the alto
- 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 sec′·onder noun
second2 definition
se·cond (si känd′)
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
Etymology: < Fr en second, in second position
Related Forms:
- secondment se·cond′·ment noun
second3 definition
sec·ond (sek′ənd)
noun
- of a minute of time
- 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
Etymology: ME seconde < ML (pars minuta) secunda, second (small part): from being a further division (i.e., beyond the minute) < L secundus: see second
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