second

Plural: seconds

Noun

• 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
• an indefinitely short time
• the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the second of the bases in the infield
• a particular point in time
• following the first in an ordering or series
  • "he came in a close second"
• a 60th part of a minute of arc
  • "the treasure is 2 minutes and 45 seconds south of here"
• the official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match
• a speech seconding a motion
  • "do I hear a second?"
• the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle
  • "he had to shift down into second to make the hill"
• merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name
• Something that is number two in a series.
• Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
• The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
• A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
• An additional helping of food.
• A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)
• 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).
• The second gear of an engine.
• Second base.
• 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.
• A Cub Scout appointed to assist the sixer.
• A second-class honours degree.
• A unit of time historically and commonly defined as a sixtieth of a minute which the International System of Units more precisely defines 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.
• A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
• A short, indeterminate amount of time.
• One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
• One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.
• Aid; assistance; help.

Verb

Verb Forms: seconded, seconding, seconds

• To support a motion or proposal; to endorse.
• give support or one's approval to
  • "I'll second that motion"
• transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment
  • "The officer was seconded for duty overseas"
• To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See etymology 3 for translations.)
• To follow in the next place; to succeed.
• To climb after a lead climber.
• To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
• To assist or support; to back.
• To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from etymology 1 above.)
• To accompany by singing as the second performer.

Adjective Satellite

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

Adjective

• a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first
  • "second flute"
  • "the second violins"

Adverb

• in the second place
  • "second, we must consider the economy"

Adj

• Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
• Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
• Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.

Adv

• After the first; at the second rank.
• After the first occurrence but before the third.

Examples

• He became the second player to hit 50000 runs for his county.
• He is batting second today.
• He lives on Second Street.
• His opponent tried to challenge his word, but no one would second the motion.
• I second the motion.
• I'll be there in a second.
• If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second.
• Residents of Texas prepared for Hurricane Harvey, which would in some ways turn out to become the second Hurricane Katrina.
• Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system.
• That was good barbecue. I hope I can get seconds.
• The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.
• The second volume in "The Lord of the Rings" series is called "The Two Towers".
• They were discounted because they contained blemishes, nicks or were otherwise factory seconds.
• You take the first one, and I'll have the second.

Synonyms

2d, 2nd, arcsecond, back, bit, endorse, endorsement, indorse, indorsement, instant, irregular, minute, mo, moment, s, sec, second base, second gear, secondly, secondment, detail#Verb, jiffy, other, second of arc, seconder

Antonyms

first

Related Words

secundal

Anagrams of second