Meaning of second in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Adverb
    1. Definitions
  5. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  6. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    US accent

    UK accent

  1. Verb

    second

    Etymology

    early 19th century: from French en second‘in the second rank (of officers)’

    Definitions

    1. give support or one's approval to

    Examples

    • « I'll second that motion »
    • « I can't back this plan »
    • « endorse a new project »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment

    Examples

    • « The officer was seconded for duty overseas »

    Derived terms

  3. Classifying Adjective

    second

    Definitions

    1. coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitude

    Synonyms

  4. 2. coming next after first

    Examples

    • « a second chance »
    • « the second vice president »

    Synonyms

  5. 3. having the second highest gear ratio

    Examples

    • « second gear »

    Synonyms

  6. Adverb

    second

    Definitions

    1. in the second place

    Examples

    • « second, we must consider the economy »

  7. Noun

    second

    Etymology

    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 sixty

    Definitions

    1. 1/60 of a minute

    Examples

    • « the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites »
  8. 2. an indefinitely short time

    Examples

    • « wait just a moment »
    • « it only takes a minute »
    • « in just a bit »
  9. 3. the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near 2nd base
  10. 4. a particular point in time

    Examples

    • « the moment he arrived the party began »
  11. 5. following the first in an ordering or series

    Examples

    • « he came in a close second »
  12. 6. a 60th part of a minute of arc

    Examples

    • « the treasure is 2 minutes and 45 seconds south of here »
  13. 7. the official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match
  14. 8. a speech seconding a motion

    Examples

    • « do I hear a second? »

    Derived terms

  15. 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 »
  16. 10. merchandise that has imperfections

    Examples

    • « usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name »

  17. Qualitative Adjective

    second

    Definitions

    1. a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first

    Examples

    • « 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

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