English

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Etymology

From Latin secundus, second; related to sequi, follow

Noun

second (plural seconds)

1. 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 0 K; one-sixtieth of a minute (as it is the second division of the hour, the minute being the first). Abbreviations: s, sec; symbols: s (SI and non-scientific usage), sec (in non-scientific usage only).
2. A unit of angular measure equal to one-sixtieth of a minute. (Abbreviation: ")
3. A short, indeterminate amount of time. (Colloquial short form: sec)

   I'll be there in a second.

4. That which comes after the first.

   You take the first one, and I'll have the second.

5. (usually in 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.

6. The attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match, who must be ready to take over if the contestant drops out. In the case of a duel, the seconds may also fight each other at 90° to the other contestants.
7. One who agrees in addition. This is usually needed in most meetings in order to pass judgement etc.

   If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second.

8. Another chance to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess .)
9. The second gear of an engine.
10. The second base in baseball.

Synonyms

• (unit of angular measure): second of arc
• (gear): second gear
• (base in baseball) second base

Translations

SI unit of time

unit of angular measure

short, indeterminate amount of time

manufactured item that fails to meet quality control standards

attendant of a duel or boxing match standing in for a contestant

that which comes after the first

one who agrees in addition

another chance to achieve what should have been done the first time

Translations to be checked

The translations below need to be checked by native speakers and inserted into the appropriate tables above. The numbering is now out of date and unreliable.

Definition 1

• Breton: eilenn f, eilennoù f pl
• Dutch: seconde m
• Interlingua: secunda
• Romanica: secunda f, secundo m
• Russian: секунда (sekunda)
• Slovak: sekunda f
• Vietnamese: giây

Definition 2

• Dutch: seconde m
• Estonian: sekund
• German: Sekunde f
• Interlingua: secunda
• Italian: secondo m
• Romanica: secunda f, secundo m
• Russian: секунда (sekunda)
• Slovak: sekunda f
• Vietnamese: giây

Definition 3

• Dutch: seconde m, zo, meteen
• Estonian: sekund
• Interlingua: secunda , instante
• Romanica: secunda f, secundo m, instante m
• Russian: секунда (sekunda)
• Slovak: sekunda f
• Vietnamese: phút

Definition 4

• Dutch: tweede keus m, tweede soort f
• Estonian: hetk , silmapilk , moment, viiv
• German: Sekunde f
• Polish: drugi , gatunek m
• Slovak: moment m, momentík m

Definition 5

• Dutch: secondant m
• Estonian: teise sordi kaup
• Polish: sekundant m

Definition 6

• Dutch: tweede n
• Estonian: sekundant
• German: Sekundant m
• Italian: secondo m, seconda f
• Polish: drugi m
• Slovak: sekundant m, sekundantka f
• Vietnamese: (thứ) hai

Definition 7

• Dutch: bijval m
• Estonian: teine

Definition 8

Definition 9

• Breton: bremaik adverb
• Catalan: segon
• Frisian: sekonde m
• Greek: [[ ]] (deuterolepta)
• Hebrew: שניה f, שניות (Shniyot) plural
• Icelandic: sekúnda
• Indonesian: detik
• Japanese: 秒 (びょう , byō)
• Latin: secundus
• Manchu: (miyori )
• Norwegian: sekund
• Romanian: secund m, secundă f
• Spanish: segundo m, segunda f

See also

Wikipedia article second

Adjective

second

1. The ordinal form of the number two; following immediately after first.

Abbreviations

2nd, 2^nd; (in names, esp. of monarchs and popes) II

Derived terms

• leap second
• second amendment
• second best
• second cousin
• second base
• second baseman
• second fiddle
• second hand
• second in command
• second nature

Translations

Transitive verb

to second

Pronunciation

(temporary SE-k@nd)

1. To agree as a second person to some proposal, usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. ("I second the motion.")

Translations

Pronunciation

Transitive verb

(temporary s@-KOND, s@-KAND)

1. To transfer temporarily to alternate employment

French

Pronunciation

• SAMPA: /s(@)go~/, /s(@)go~t/(liaison)

Adjective

second m (f seconde), prepositive

1. second (ordinal numeral)
2. alternate

Synonym

• deuxième

Noun

second m

1. assistant

See also

• secondaire
• seconder