second

Topic: CHRONOLOGY

Sense: 1-3, 5

Date:	1300-1400
Language:	Medieval Latin
Origin:	secunda, from secunda pars minuta 'second small part, one sixtieth of a minute', from Latin secundus; SECOND²

second
2 noun

second2 S1 W2

1 [countable]TMC 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

(at) any second (now)

used to say that something will or may happen extremely soon:

He should be here any second.

seconds

[plural]

a) informalDF 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 sixty parts into which a minute of an angle is divided. It can be shown as a symbol after a number. For example, 78º 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

Definition of second from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic CHRONOLOGY

Topic: CHRONOLOGY

(at) any second (now)

seconds

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