Definition of "second"

second¹

/ˈsɛkənd/

adjective
not comparable
1. Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
  Quotations
  The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. […] The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man's private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.
  1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, page 249
2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
  Quotations
  May the day when we become the second people upon earth […] be the day of our utter extirpation!
  1824, Walter Savage Landor, “Conversation I. Richard I and the Abbot of Boxley.”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume I, London: […] Taylor and Hessey, […], page 6
3. Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.
  Quotations
  A Daniel ſtill ſay I, a ſecond Daniel, […]
  c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i], page 180, column 2
adverb
not comparable
1. (with superlative) After the first; at the second rank.
2. After the first occurrence but before the third.
noun
plural seconds
1. Something that is number two in a series.
2. Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
3. The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
4. (usually in the plural) A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
5. (usually in the plural) An additional helping of food.
6. A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)
  Quotations
  The policeman smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Now if you'll follow me, I'll escort you to the Victoria.""Oh, there's no need of that. If you'll just point me in the right direction..."That's what got you in trouble the first time around. You don't need a second.
  2003, Sheila Ryan Wallace, The Sea Captain and His Ladies‎, page 22
  Smoky Joe ran against a Houston horse named Cherokee Chief.“Don't hit him,” Jeanine said to the jockey. “Maybe once. But you don't get a second.”
  2009, Paulette Jiles, Stormy Weather‎, page 37
  I'll have one chance to show them that's no longer true. One chance ... and if I stumble, I'll not get a second.
  2011, Karen Miller, The Innocent Mage‎
7. (music) 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).
8. The second gear of an engine.
9. (baseball) Second base.
10. 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.
11. A Cub Scout appointed to assist the sixer.
  Quotations
  Many packs have a sixer's council where the sixers, and sometimes the seconds, meet with Akela and some of the other leaders.
  1995, Boy Scouts of Canada. National Council, The Cub Book
12. (informal) A second-class honours degree.
  Quotations
  [Stephen Hawking] […] would go to Cambridge, he said, if they gave him a first, and stay at Oxford if they gave him a second. He got a first.
  2004, William H. Cropper, Great Physicists, page 454
verb
third-person singular simple present seconds, present participle seconding, simple past and past participle seconded
1. (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See etymology 3 for translations.)
2. To follow in the next place; to succeed.
  Quotations
  In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill.The spelling has been modernized.
  1655, Thomas Fuller, edited by James Nichols, The Church History of Britain, […], new edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [James Nichols] for Thomas Tegg and Son, […], published 1837
  Sin is usually seconded with sin.
  1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727
3. (climbing) To climb after a lead climber.

second²

/ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/

noun
plural seconds
1. One-sixtieth of a minute; 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 absolute zero and at rest.
2. A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
3. (informal) A short, indeterminate amount of time.

second³

/səˈkɒnd/

verb
third-person singular simple present seconds, present participle seconding, simple past and past participle seconded
1. (transitive, UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
  Quotations
  Things changed quickly from 1892 when Sam Fay was seconded from the L.S.W.R. as General Manager & Secretary.
  1961 October, “Talking of Trains: Last of the M.S.W.J.R.”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 585–586
  Daniel had still been surprised, however, to find the lab area deserted, all the scientists apparently seconded by Cleomides's military friends.
  1998, Paul Leonard, chapter 9, in Dreamstone Moon
2. (transitive) To assist or support; to back.
  Quotations
  Wee haue Supplyes, to ſecond our Attempt: […]
  c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i], page 91, column 1
  In human works, tho’ labour’d on with pain, / A thouſand movements ſcarce one purpoſe gain; / In God's, one ſingle can its End produce, / Yet ſerves to ſecond too ſome other Uſe.
  1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle I, London: Printed for J[ohn] Wilford, […], page 6, line 61
3. (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from etymology 1 above.)
4. (transitive, music) To accompany by singing as the second performer.
noun
plural seconds
1. One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
  Quotations
  The dogs however parted, and after a little handling by their seconds immediately returned to the charge
  1820, Pierce Egan, Sporting Anecdotes‎, page 414
  They find ways to take advice from their seconds or they arrange the schedule against you as they did to me in the finals of the 1962 World Tournament
  1973, Frank Brady, Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy‎, page 201
  Vaguely reminiscent of the use of "seconds" among duelists, this provision required that the two hostile nations stop threatening each other and, instead, to let two appointed countries (their "seconds") try and solve their difficulties
  1992, Mark W. Janis, International Courts for the Twenty-First Century‎, page 10
  Theodore's practice is described as a model for the housemasters and their seconds
  2009, David Brakke, Demons and the Making of the Monk: Spiritual Combat in Early ...‎
2. One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.
3. (obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.
  Quotations
  Give second, and my love / Is everlasting thine.
  1608, J. Fletcher, The Faithful Shepherdess

Definition of "second"

second1

adjective

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

adverb

noun

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations

second2

noun

second3

verb

Quotations

Quotations

noun

Quotations

Quotations

second¹

second²

second³