second

/ˈsɛkənd/

Definition & Meaning of "second"

second

ADJECTIVE

being number two in order or time

Example

This is his second attempt at solving the puzzle.

The second chapter of the book explains the theory.

1.1

chosen or considered after the first option

alternate

alternative

substitute

second

Example

His second choice for college was still prestigious.

Chocolate is her second preference, just after vanilla.

1.2

extra or repeated, especially another chance or instance

Example

I'd love a second cup of tea.

This is your second warning.

being of a lower or secondary status, sometimes still important but not the highest

lesser

lower-ranking

lowly

petty

secondary

Example

The restaurant is second only to the famous one downtown.

She always felt like a second priority in the relationship.

2.1

ranking just below the top position in a structured profession, especially in military or maritime roles

subordinate

under

second

Example

He was promoted to second mate on the cargo vessel.

As the second officer, she handled safety drills.

happening once in every two occurrences

alternate

Example

The committee meets every second Tuesday.

He visits his grandparents every second weekend.

finishing immediately after the winner

Example

She took second place in the spelling bee.

The team won second prize in the competition.

resembling or serving as another version of something famous

Example

Critics called him the second Shakespeare of modern literature.

The small town was dubbed a second Venice due to its canals.

referring to a lower or supporting musical role

Specialized

Example

He played second violin in the orchestra.

She sings second soprano in the choir.

relating to the position or gear just above first in a sequence of vehicle gears

Example

He shifted into second gear as the car gained speed.

Second speed is ideal for city traffic.

(grammar) describing forms that refer to the person being addressed

Example

In English, " you " is a second person pronoun.

The verb form changes in the second person singular.

Second

NOUN

the standard SI unit of time, equal to one-sixtieth of a minute

sec

Example

She won the race by just 22 seconds.

The microwave timer was set for 90 seconds.

a very brief moment in time

bit

flash

heartbeat

instant

jiffy

Example

Hold on, I 'll be there in a second.

His expression changed in a second.

a small unit of angle measurement, primarily used in astronomy, equal to 1/3,600 of a degree

arcsecond

Example

The telescope has a resolution of 0.2 seconds of arc.

They calculated the star's position with precision down to the second.

the one that follows the first

Example

He was the second of four children.

The second in the series comes out next year.

the individual who holds the second-highest status in a group or organization

Example

She's the second in command at the embassy.

He was the second to receive the award after the director.

the assistant who helps or represents the main participant in a contest, especially in a duel or boxing match

Example

The boxer's second handed him water between rounds.

Each duelist was accompanied by a second.

(music) the distance between two notes that are directly next to each other in a scale

Specialized

Example

The melody includes several major seconds.

That harmony clashes because it's a dissonant second.

(music) the second note in the scale, directly above the tonic or root note

supertonic

Specialized

Example

The second of the scale adds brightness to the chord.

In D major, E is the second.

a grade level in early education, following the first

Dialect

British

Example

She's in the second this year.

They start learning cursive in the second.

a second portion of food at a meal, used in plural form

Informal

Example

Anyone want seconds?

He asked for seconds of the mashed potatoes.

merchandise sold at a reduced price due to minor flaws, used in plural form

irregular

Example

These towels are seconds, so they're half price.

You can get great deals on seconds at the factory store.

a type of flour, or bread made from it, that is coarser and of lower quality, used in plural form

Example

They baked bread from seconds during hard times.

Seconds were cheaper but still filling.

the act or statement of supporting a motion in a meeting

endorsement

secondment

Example

The motion was passed after the second.

Without a second, the proposal would have failed.

second

ADVERB

used to indicate the second item in a list of arguments, reasons, or steps

secondly

Example

First, the plan is costly; second, it's impractical.

She excels in math.

describing a competitor or team that comes immediately after the winner

Example

She trained hard but finished second in the finals.

The team ranked second in the league this season.

being next in position or preference after the top or first

Example

Tokyo is Japan's second most populous city.

This is my second favorite book of all time.

to second

VERB

to officially endorse a proposal or nomination during a formal discussion

Transitive: to second a proposal or nomination

Example

She seconds the proposal to extend the deadline.

He seconded the amendment during yesterday's meeting.

to back someone's opinion or statement

Example

Many scientists second this hypothesis.

The CEO seconded her colleague's concerns last week.

to provide additional help or resources

Example

The general seconds troops to the border monthly.

They seconded extra staff to the project in 2022.

to assign an employee to a different position for a limited time

Dialect

British

Transitive: to second sb

Example

She was seconded to the marketing department for six months.

The officer was seconded to a UN peacekeeping mission.

to act as a backup or assistant in a duel, boxing match, etc

Example

His trainer seconds him in every match.

The knight's squire seconded him in the duel.

to come immediately after in sequence

Old use

Example

Spring seconds winter in the natural order.

A crisis seconded the economic boom.

Nearby Words

second assistant director

second banana

second base

second best

second bite at the cherry

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Definition & Meaning of "second"

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