Meaning of second in English
Table of contents
Pronunciation
US accent
UK accent
Verb
secondEtymology
early 19th century: from French en second‘in the second rank (of officers)’Definitions
1. give support or one's approval toExamples
- « I'll second that motion »
- « I can't back this plan »
- « endorse a new project »
Derived terms
- 2. transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment
Examples
- « The officer was seconded for duty overseas »
Derived terms
Classifying Adjective
secondDefinitions
1. coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitudeSynonyms
- 2. coming next after first
Examples
- « a second chance »
- « the second vice president »
Synonyms
- 3. having the second highest gear ratio
Examples
- « second gear »
Synonyms
Adverb
secondDefinitions
1. in the second placeExamples
- « second, we must consider the economy »
Noun
secondEtymology
late Middle English: from medieval Latin secunda (minuta)‘second (minute)’, feminine (used as a noun) of secundus, referring to the ‘second’ operation of dividing an hour by sixtyDefinitions
1. 1/60 of a minuteExamples
- « the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites »
- 2. an indefinitely short time
Examples
- « wait just a moment »
- « it only takes a minute »
- « in just a bit »
- 3. the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near 2nd base
- 4. a particular point in time
Examples
- « the moment he arrived the party began »
- 5. following the first in an ordering or series
Examples
- « he came in a close second »
- 6. a 60th part of a minute of arc
Examples
- « the treasure is 2 minutes and 45 seconds south of here »
- 7. the official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match
- 8. a speech seconding a motion
Examples
- « do I hear a second? »
Derived terms
- 9. the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle
Examples
- « he had to shift down into second to make the hill »
- 10. merchandise that has imperfections
Examples
- « usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name »
Qualitative Adjective
secondDefinitions
1. a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the firstExamples
- « second flute »
- « the second violins »
Antonyms
Famous quotes
- « My mother worked in factories, worked as a domestic, worked in a restaurant, always had a second job. » Ed Bradley
- « From my first dunk at 14 years old to my second NCAA Championship at the University of Tennessee, my intense training with my dad was always to credit. » Candace Parker
- « The truth is often terrifying, which I think is one of the motifs of Larry and Andrew's cinema. The cost of knowledge is an important theme. In the second and third films, they explore the consequences of Neo's choice to know the truth. It's a beautiful, beautiful story. » Keanu Reeves
- « I like figuring out where I need to be mentally so that I'm not thinking about the camera and that it's second nature. I want to get to a place where I can exist within the confines of what you can do with filmmaking and not have to think about it. » Anna Kendrick
- « You know, my friends, with what a brave carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house favored old barren reason from my bed, and took the daughter of the vine to spouse. » Omar Khayyam