Origin of second
1
1250–1300; Middle English (adj., noun and adv.) < Old French (adj.) < Latin
secundus following, next, second, equivalent to
sec- (base of
sequī to follow) +
-undus adj. suffix
OTHER WORDS FROM second
sec·ond·er, nounWords nearby second
Definition for second (2 of 3)
second
2
[ sek-uhnd ]
/ ˈsɛk ənd /
noun
the sixtieth part of a minute of time.
a moment or instant: It takes only a second to phone.
the basic unit of time in the International System of Units(SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 cycles of radiation in a transition, or energy level change, of the cesium atom. Symbol: s, S; Abbreviation: sec
Geometry, Astronomy.
the sixtieth part of a minute of angular measure, often represented by the sign ″, as in 30″, which is read as 30 seconds.
Compare angle1(def 1c).
Origin of second
2
1350–1400; Middle English
seconde < Middle French < Medieval Latin
secunda (
minūta) second (minute), feminine of
secundus
second1
Definition for second (3 of 3)
second
3
[ si-kond ]
/ sɪˈkɒnd /
verb (used with object)
British.
to transfer (an officer, official, or the like) temporarily to another post.
Origin of second
3
1795–1805; < French
second, noun use of the adj. in the phrase
en second, as in
lieutenant en second second lieutenant; see
second1
Example sentences from the Web for second
British Dictionary definitions for second (1 of 3)
Derived forms of second
seconder, nounWord Origin for second
C13: via Old French from Latin
secundus coming next in order, from
sequī to follow
British Dictionary definitions for second (2 of 3)
second
2
/ (ˈsɛkənd) /
noun
- 1/60 of a minute of time
- 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-133Symbol: s
1/60 of a minute of angle
Symbol: ″
a very short period of time; moment
Word Origin for second
C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin
pars minūta secunda the second small part (a minute being the first small part of an hour); see
second
1
British Dictionary definitions for second (3 of 3)
second
3
/ (sɪˈkɒnd) /
verb (tr) British
to transfer (an employee) temporarily to another branch, etc
military
to transfer (an officer) to another post, often retiring him to a staff or nonregimental position
Word Origin for second
C19: from French
en second in second rank (or position)
Medical definitions for second
second
[ sĕk′ənd ]
adj.
Coming next after the first in order, place, rank, time, or quality.
Being the next closest to the innermost digit, especially on the foot.
Other words from second
sec′ond n.Scientific definitions for second
second
[ sĕk′ənd ]
A unit of time equal to 160 of a minute.♦ A sidereal second is 160 of a sidereal minute, and a mean solar second is 160 of a mean solar minute. See more at sidereal time solar time.
A unit of angular measurement, such as longitude or right ascension, equal to 160 of a minute of arc.
Idioms and Phrases with second
second