second
Very HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number immediately following first; also a unit of time equal to 1/60 of a minute.
Can refer to something of secondary importance or quality; to formally support a proposal or motion; to temporarily transfer someone to another position.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an ordinal, it denotes sequence; as a noun for time, it is a standard measurement; as a verb, it implies endorsement or relocation; as an adjective, it can mean inferior or additional.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In building floors, 'second floor' in the UK refers to two levels above ground (ground, first, second), while in the US it refers to one level above ground (first, second). Otherwise, usage is largely identical.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, with no significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
transitive: second something (e.g., a motion)transitive with preposition: second someone to something (e.g., a department)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “second to none”
- “in a second”
- “second wind”
- “on second thought”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the second quarter of the fiscal year or second in command in organizational hierarchy.
Academic
Used in mathematics as second derivative or in physics as second law of thermodynamics.
Everyday
Common in time expressions like 'wait a second' or in sports rankings like 'second place'.
Technical
As the SI base unit of time, defined by the radiation frequency of caesium-133.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The councillor seconded the amendment during the committee meeting.
American English
- She seconded the nomination at the annual convention.
adverb
British English
- He arrived second at the gathering.
American English
- She finished second in the qualifying round.
adjective
British English
- He received the second prize in the school competition.
American English
- She earned second place in the national tournament.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is my second cup of tea.
- Please wait a second.
- She came second in the swimming race.
- I'll be ready in a second.
- After discussion, he seconded the proposal to expand the project.
- The second derivative shows the rate of change of the gradient.
- His fluency in French is second nature after years of practice.
- She was seconded to the Berlin office for a temporary assignment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'seconds' on a clock, which tick after the first minute, helping recall both time and sequence meanings.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often used in metaphors for opportunity ('second chance') or instinct ('second nature'), implying repetition or support.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'second' as ordinal (второй) with 'second' as time unit (секунда).
- Misusing 'to second' as a verb, which translates to поддерживать, not related to time or sequence.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'second' when 'minute' is intended, or vice versa in time contexts.
- Incorrectly using 'second' as a verb without an object, e.g., 'I second.' instead of 'I second the motion.'
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'second to none' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As an adjective, 'second' describes the position in a sequence (e.g., second day). As a noun, it can refer to the time unit (e.g., 60 seconds in a minute) or the person/thing in second position.
As a verb, 'second' means to formally support a proposal or motion (e.g., 'I second the motion.') or to temporarily transfer someone to another position (e.g., 'He was seconded to a different department.').
Not necessarily; 'second' can stand alone to indicate position, but it inherently implies following first in a sequence. In contexts like 'second best', it doesn't require 'first' to be mentioned explicitly.
Rarely; standard comparative forms like 'more second' are not used. However, in phrases like 'second to none', it is used comparatively. The superlative is often expressed with 'second' itself, as in 'the second highest'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Numbers and Time
A1 · 50 words · Numbers, dates, days and expressions of time.