sec·ond 1 (s?k??nd)n.1. a. A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.b. The time needed for a cesium-133 atom to perform 9,192,631,770 complete oscillations. See Table at measurement.2. A brief interval of time; a moment. See Synonyms at moment.3. Mathematics A unit of angular measure equal to one sixtieth of a minute. In this sense, also called arcsecond, second of arc.[Middle English seconde, from Old French, from Medieval Latin (pars min?ta) secunda, second (small part), feminine of Latin secundus, second, following; see second2.]sec·ond 2 (s?k??nd)adj.1. Coming next after the first in order, place, rank, time, or quality.2. a. Repeating an initial instance: a second chance.b. Reminiscent of one that is well known: a second George Washington; a second Waterloo.c. Alternate; other: every second year.3. Inferior to another; subordinate: second vice president at the bank; a leader second to none.4. Music a. Having a lower pitch.b. Singing or playing a part having a lower range.5. Having the second-highest ratio. Used of gears in a sequence.n.1. a. The ordinal number matching the number 2 in a series.b. One of two equal parts.2. One that is next in order, place, time, or quality after the first.3. often seconds An article of merchandise of inferior quality.4. The official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match.5. Music a. The interval between consecutive tones on the diatonic scale.b. A tone separated by this interval from another tone.c. A combination of two such tones in notation or in harmony.d. The second part, instrument, or voice in a harmonized composition.6. An utterance of endorsement, as to a parliamentary motion.7. 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.8. or seconds Informal A second serving of food.9. Baseball Second base.tr.v. sec·ond·ed, sec·ond·ing, sec·onds 1. a. To endorse (a motion or nomination) as a required preliminary to discussion or vote.b. To support or promote: Her suggestion was seconded by several colleagues.2. To attend (a duelist or a boxer) as an aide or assistant.3. (s?-k?nd?) Chiefly British To transfer (a military officer, for example) temporarily.adv.1. In the second order, place, or rank: finished second.2. But for one other; save one: the second highest peak.[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin secundus; see sekw- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.second (?s?k?nd) adj (usually prenominal) 1. (Mathematics) a. coming directly after the first in numbering or counting order, position, time, etc; being the ordinal number of two: often written 2ndb. (as noun): the second in line. 2. rated, graded, or ranked between the first and third levels3. alternate: every second Thursday. 4. additional; extra: a second opportunity. 5. resembling a person or event from an earlier period of history; unoriginal: a second Wagner. 6. of lower quality; inferior: belonging to the second class. 7. (Automotive Engineering) denoting the lowest but one forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle8. (Music, other) music a. relating to or denoting a musical part, voice, or instrument lower in pitch than another part, voice, or instrument (the first): the second tenors. b. of or relating to a part, instrument, or instrumentalist regarded as subordinate to another (the first): the second flute. 9. at second hand by hearsayn10. (Education) education Brit an honours degree of the second class, usually further divided into an upper and lower designation. Full term: second-class honours degree 11. (Automotive Engineering) the lowest but one forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle: he changed into second on the bend. 12. (Boxing) (in boxing, duelling, etc) an attendant who looks after a competitor13. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a speech seconding a motion or the person making it14. (Music, other) music a. the interval between one note and another lying next above or below it in the diatonic scaleb. one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the other. See also minor4, major14, interval515. (Commerce) (plural) goods of inferior quality16. (plural) informal a second helping of food17. (Cookery) (plural) the second course of a mealvb (tr) 18. to give aid or backing to19. (Boxing) (in boxing, etc) to act as second to (a competitor)20. (Parliamentary Procedure) to make a speech or otherwise express formal support for (a motion already proposed)adv Also: secondly in the second placesentence connector Also: secondly as the second point: linking what follows with the previous statement[C13: via Old French from Latin secundus coming next in order, from sequ? to follow] ?seconder nsecond (?s?k?nd) n1. (Units) a. of a minute of timeb. the basic SI unit of time: the duration of 9 192 631 770 periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of the ground state of caesium-133. Symbol: s 2. (Mathematics) of a minute of angle. Symbol: ? 3. a very short period of time; moment[C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin pars min?ta secunda the second small part (a minute being the first small part of an hour); see second1]second (s??k?nd) vb (tr) 1. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) to transfer (an employee) temporarily to another branch, etc2. (Military) military to transfer (an officer) to another post, often retiring him to a staff or nonregimental position[C19: from French en second in second rank (or position)]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014sec?ond1 (?s?k ?nd) adj. 1. next after the first; being the ordinal number for two. 2. being the latter of two equal parts. 3. next after the first in place, time, or value. 4. next after the first in rank: the second in command. 5. alternate: every second week. 6. inferior. 7. being the lower of two parts for the same instrument or voice: second alto. 8. other; another: a second Solomon. 9. pertaining to the gear transmission ratio at which drive shaft speed is greater than that of low gear but not so great as that of other gears for a given engine crankshaft speed. n. 10. a second part. 11. the second member of a series. 12. a person who aids or supports another. 13. a person who advises a boxer between rounds or attends a duelist. 14. second gear. 15. Usu., seconds. an additional helping of food. 16. (in parliamentary procedure) a. a person who expresses formal support of a motion so that it may be discussed or put to a vote. b. an act or instance of expressing such support. 17. Usu., seconds. goods of less than the highest quality. v.t. 18. to assist or support. 19. to further or advance, as aims. 20. (in parliamentary procedure) to express formal support of (a motion, proposal, etc.), as a necessary preliminary to further discussion or to voting. adv. 21. in the second place; secondly: The catcher is batting second. [1250?1300; Middle English (adj., n., and adv.)