second

1 number

1 2nd; the person, thing, event etc after the first one: His second goal was from a penalty. | a second year student at University | In the second of a series of programmes we look at the role of women in industry. | the second largest/biggest etc (=the one after the largest, the biggest etc): Dalton is the second tallest boy in the class. | come/finish second (=be the one after the winner of a race or competition)

2 second home/car etc another home, car etc besides the one you use most of the time

3 be/come a poor second to not be as good, interesting etc as something else: Once you've tasted real vanilla, the artificial stuff is a poor second.

4 every second year/person/thing etc the second, then the fourth year etc: Only water the plants every second day.

5 be second only to sth to be the most important thing, the best thing etc, apart from one other particular thing: Colin's career was second only to his family.

6 be second to none to be the best: As a singer, Ella Fitzgerald was second to none.

2 noun

1 (C) a unit for measuring time that is equal to 1/60 of a minute: for 5/20/30 etc seconds: Hold your breath for four seconds. | take 5/20/30 etc seconds: The whole operation takes about twenty seconds.

2 (C) especially spoken a very short period of time: a few seconds: Just wait there for a few seconds. | within seconds (=after a few seconds): Within seconds Cassie called me back. | just a second spoken (=wait a moment): Just a second and I'll come and help. | in a matter of seconds (=in a very short time)

—see also: split second

3 seconds (plural)

a) informal another serving of the same food after you have eaten your first serving: Does anyone want seconds?

b) clothes or other goods that are sold cheaply in shops because they are not perfect

—compare second­hand

4 (C) someone who helped and supported someone who was fighting in a duel 1 (1) or other organized fight in former times

3 (sentence adverb) used to add another piece of information to what you have already said or written; secondly: Firstly the church is a place of worship and second, is somewhere the community can congregate. 4 verb (T) to formally support a suggestion or plan made by another person in a meeting: second a motion/proposal/amendment etc: Who'll second the motion? 5 verb (T) BrE to send someone to do someone else's job for a short time: second sb to: Jill's been seconded to the marketing department while David's away. —see also: secondment