Meaning of second in English

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

    Examples

    • « The officer was seconded for duty overseas »

  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? »
  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