sec‧ond 1 S1 W1 / sekənd / 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.

second 2 S1 W2 noun #

1 [可数名词] 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 [可数名词] 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 [复数形式] 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 hand 1 5 [可数名词] 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 [可数名词] someone who helps someone in a fight, especially in boxing or, in the past, a duel 7 [不可数名词] American English informal second base

second 3 / sekənd / adverb #

1 [句子副词] 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.

second 4 verb [及物动词] #

to formally support a suggestion made by another person in a meeting → propose second a motion/proposal/amendment etc

se‧cond 5 / sɪkɒnd $ -kɑnd / verb [及物动词，通常被动态] 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