second
sec‧ond1 S1 W1 /ˈsekənd/ 
number
1. the second person, thing, event etc is the one that comes after the first:
the Second World War
the second of August
a second year student
his second wife
Clinton’s second term in office
the second half of the year
the second time in three days
2. the position in a competition or scale that comes after the one that is the best, most successful etc:
She won second prize.
They climbed to second place in the League.
second largest/most successful etc
Africa’s second highest mountain
be second only to something (=used to emphasize that something is nearly the largest, most important etc)
The euro will have a circulation second only to that of the dollar.
3. another example of the same thing, or another in addition to the one you have:
We advertised for a second guitarist.
There was a second reason for his dismissal.
I asked the doctor for a second opinion (=when you ask another person to repeat an examination, test etc for you).
4. every second year/person/thing etc
a. the second, then the fourth, then the sixth year etc:
The nurse comes every second day.
b. used to emphasize that, in a group of similar things, there is too much of one particular thing:
Every second house seemed to be boarded up.
5. be second to none to be the best:
The quality of Britain’s overseas aid programme is second to none.
6. second chance help given to someone who has failed, in the hope that they will succeed this time:
I just want to give these kids a second chance.
7. have second thoughts to start having doubts about a decision you have made:
You’re not having second thoughts, are you?
have second thoughts about
She’d had second thoughts about the whole project.
8. on second thoughts British English, on second thought American English spoken used to say that you have changed your mind about something:
I’ll call her tomorrow – no, on second thought, I’ll try now.
9. not give something a second thought/without a second thought used to say that someone does not think or worry about something:
She dismissed the rumour without a second thought.
10. not give something a second glance/look (also without a second glance/look) to not look at something again, because you have not really noticed it or because it does not seem important:
No one gave the woman in the grey uniform a second glance.
11. be/become second nature (to somebody) something that is second nature to you is something you have done so often that you do it almost without thinking:
Driving becomes second nature after a while.
12. second wind a new feeling of energy after you have been working or exercising very hard, and had thought you were too tired to continue:
He got his second wind and ran on.
second2 S1 W2 noun
Language: Medieval Latin
Origin: secunda, from secunda pars minuta 'second small part, one sixtieth of a minute', from Latin secundus; ⇨ second21. [countable] a unit for measuring time. There are 60 seconds in a minute:
Hold your breath for six seconds.
The operation takes only 30 seconds.
Ultrasonic waves travel at around 300 metres per second.
within seconds (=after only a few seconds)
Within seconds, Bev called back.
2. [countable] a very short period of time:
I’ll be back in a second.
Just a second (=wait a moment), I’ll come and help.
At least 30 shots were fired in a matter of seconds (=in a very short time). ⇨ split second
3. (at) any second (now) used to say that something will or may happen extremely soon:
He should be here any second.
4. seconds [plural]
a. informal another serving of food, after you have eaten your first serving
b. clothes or other goods that are cheaper than usual because they are not perfect ⇨ second hand1
5. [countable] technical one of the 60 parts into which a minute of an angle is divided. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 78° 52′ 11″ means 78 degrees 52 minutes 11 seconds.
6. [countable] someone who helps someone in a fight, especially in boxing or, in the past, a duel
7. [uncountable] American English informal second base
second3 /ˈsekənd/ adverb
1. [sentence adverb] used before you add information to what you have already said
SYN secondly
2. next after the first one
come/finish etc second
I came second in the UK championships.
Tea is the most popular drink, while coffee ranks (=comes) second.
second4 verb [transitive]
to formally support a suggestion made by another person in a meeting ⇨ propose
second a motion/proposal/amendment etc
se‧cond5 /sɪˈkɒnd $ -ˈkɑːnd/ verb [transitive usually passive] British English
to send someone to do someone else’s job for a short time
be seconded to something
Jill’s been seconded to the marketing department while Dave’s away.
⇨ secondment
| I |
number1. the second person, thing, event etc is the one that comes after the first:
2. the position in a competition or scale that comes after the one that is the best, most successful etc:
second largest/most successful etc
be second only to something (=used to emphasize that something is nearly the largest, most important etc)
3. another example of the same thing, or another in addition to the one you have:
4. every second year/person/thing etc
a. the second, then the fourth, then the sixth year etc:
b. used to emphasize that, in a group of similar things, there is too much of one particular thing:
5. be second to none to be the best:
6. second chance help given to someone who has failed, in the hope that they will succeed this time:
7. have second thoughts to start having doubts about a decision you have made:
have second thoughts about
8. on second thoughts British English, on second thought American English spoken used to say that you have changed your mind about something:
9. not give something a second thought/without a second thought used to say that someone does not think or worry about something:
10. not give something a second glance/look (also without a second glance/look) to not look at something again, because you have not really noticed it or because it does not seem important:
11. be/become second nature (to somebody) something that is second nature to you is something you have done so often that you do it almost without thinking:
12. second wind a new feeling of energy after you have been working or exercising very hard, and had thought you were too tired to continue:
| II |
noun Sense 1-3, 5
Date: 1300-1400Language: Medieval Latin
Origin: secunda, from secunda pars minuta 'second small part, one sixtieth of a minute', from Latin secundus; ⇨ second2
within seconds (=after only a few seconds)
2. [countable] a very short period of time:
3. (at) any second (now) used to say that something will or may happen extremely soon:
4. seconds [plural]
a. informal another serving of food, after you have eaten your first serving
b. clothes or other goods that are cheaper than usual because they are not perfect ⇨ second hand1
5. [countable] technical one of the 60 parts into which a minute of an angle is divided. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 78° 52′ 11″ means 78 degrees 52 minutes 11 seconds.
6. [countable] someone who helps someone in a fight, especially in boxing or, in the past, a duel
7. [uncountable] American English informal second base
| III |
adverb1. [sentence adverb] used before you add information to what you have already said
SYN secondly
2. next after the first one
come/finish etc second
| IV |
verb [transitive]to formally support a suggestion made by another person in a meeting ⇨ propose
second a motion/proposal/amendment etc
| V |
verb [transitive usually passive] British Englishto send someone to do someone else’s job for a short time
be seconded to something
⇨ secondment