sec·ond
1 (sĕḱənd)
[Middle English seconde, from Old French, from Medieval Latin (pars minūta) secunda, second (small part), feminine of Latin secundus, second, following; see second2.]
noun
- A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
- The time needed for a cesium-133 atom to perform 9,192,631,770 complete oscillations.
- A brief interval of time; a moment. See synonyms at moment
- Mathematics A unit of angular measure equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
sec·ond
2 (sĕḱənd)
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin secundus.]
adjective
- Coming next after the first in order, place, rank, time, or quality.
- Repeating an initial instance: a second chance.
- Reminiscent of one that is well known: a second George Washington; a second Waterloo.
- Alternate; other: every second year.
- Inferior to another; subordinate: second vice president at the bank; a leader second to none.
- Music
- Having a lower pitch.
- Singing or playing a part having a lower range.
- Having the second-highest ratio. Used of gears in a sequence.
noun
- The ordinal number matching the number 2 in a series.
- 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
- The interval between consecutive tones on the diatonic scale.
- A tone separated by this interval from another tone.
- A combination of two such tones in notation or in harmony.
- 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.
- Informal A second serving of food.
- Baseball Second base.
transitive verb: -ond·ed, -ond·ing, -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.
- Chiefly British To transfer (a military officer, for example) temporarily.
adverb
- In the second order, place, or rank: finished second.
- But for one other; save one: the second highest peak.