English
second
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈsɛkənd/
  • (America) enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA: /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nt/
  • (Canada) IPA: /ˈsɛkɪnd/
Adjective

second (not comparable)

  1. Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
    He lives on Second Street.
    The second volume in "The Lord of the Rings" series is called "The Two Towers".
    You take the first one, and I'll have the second.
  2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
  3. Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.
    • c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 4, scene 1]:
      A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!
    Residents of Texas prepared for Hurricane Harvey, which would in some ways turn out to become the second Hurricane Katrina.
Synonyms Translations Translations Adverb

second (not comparable)

  1. (with superlative) After the first; at the second rank.
    Saturn is the second largest planet.
  2. After the first occurrence but before the third.
    He is batting second today.
Translations Noun

second (plural seconds)

  1. Something that is number two in a series.
  2. Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
  3. The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
  4. (usually, in the plural) A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
    They were discounted because they contained blemishes, nicks or were otherwise factory seconds.
  5. (usually, in the plural) An additional helping of food.
    That was good barbecue. I hope I can get seconds.
  6. A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)
  7. (music) The interval between two adjacent notes in a diatonic scale (either or both of them may be raised or lowered from the basic scale via any type of accidental).
  8. The second gear of an engine.
  9. (baseball) Second base.
  10. The agent of a party to an honour dispute whose role was to try to resolve the dispute or to make the necessary arrangements for a duel.
  11. A Cub Scout appointed to assist the sixer.
    Synonyms: seconder
    • 1995, Boy Scouts of Canada. National Council, The Cub Book
      Many packs have a sixer's council where the sixers, and sometimes the seconds, meet with Akela and some of the other leaders.
Related terms Translations Translations Translations
  • German: zweite Wahl
  • Portuguese: artigo de segunda
Translations Translations
  • German: Sekunde
  • Russian: секу́нда
Translations Verb

second (seconds, present participle seconding; past and past participle seconded)

  1. (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See under #Etymology 3 for translations.)
    I second the motion.
  2. To follow in the next place; to succeed.
  3. (climbing) To climb after a lead climber.
Pronunciation
  • enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA: /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nt/
Noun

second (plural seconds)

  1. One-sixtieth of a minute; the SI unit of time, defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of caesium-133 in a ground state at a temperature of absolute zero and at rest.
  2. A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
  3. (informal) A short, indeterminate amount of time.
    I'll be there in a second.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Pronunciation
Transfer temporarily
  • enPR: səkŏnd', IPA: /səˈkɒnd/
  • enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA: /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nt/
Verb

second (seconds, present participle seconding; past and past participle seconded)

  1. (transitive, UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
    The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.
  2. (transitive) To assist or support; to back.
    • c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 4, scene 1]:
      We have supplies to second our attempt.
    • 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify ), London: Printed for J[ohn] Wilford, […], OCLC 960856019 ↗:
  3. (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from the English adjective above.)
    I second the motion.
  4. (transitive, music) To accompany by singing as the second performer.
Translations Translations Translations Noun

second (plural seconds)

  1. One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
  2. One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.
    If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second.
  3. (obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.
Translations

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