# second

/ˈsɛkənd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/second
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. ordinal number 2

numeral · CEFR A1

coming after the first thing in a list or series.

For teachers: the ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two; following the first in a sequence.

- This is the second time I have visited London this year.
- The second chapter of the report provides a detailed analysis of the fiscal year's primary expenditures.

### 2. unit of time

noun · CEFR A1

a very short period of time; there are 60 of these in one minute.

For teachers: the SI base unit of time, defined as one-sixtieth of a minute.

- The winner finished only one second ahead of the other runners.
- The high-speed camera captures thousands of frames per second, allowing researchers to observe the impact in extreme detail.

### 3. a short moment

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a very short, informal amount of time.

For teachers: an informal, indeterminate, and brief duration of time.

- Wait a second, I forgot my keys on the table.
- If you can spare a second, I would appreciate your feedback on this draft before I send it to the director.

### 4. extra food

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a second serving of the same meal.

For teachers: an additional helping of food after the first portion has been consumed.

- The dinner was so delicious that everyone asked for seconds.
- Despite the large portions served during the first course, several guests were eager for seconds of the homemade lasagna.

Usage: usually used in the plural form 'seconds'

### 5. musical interval

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the distance between two notes that are next to each other in a scale.

For teachers: the musical interval between two adjacent degrees in a diatonic scale.

- The teacher explained the difference between a major and minor second.
- The composer utilised dissonant major seconds to create a sense of mounting tension throughout the introductory movement.

### 6. to support a motion

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to formally support a suggestion so that it can be discussed or voted on.

For teachers: to formally support a motion or proposal in a meeting to allow it to proceed to a vote.

- I would like to second the motion to end the meeting early.
- After the chairperson proposed the amendment, the treasurer rose to second the motion, ensuring it would be debated by the board.

Usage: transitive verb; requires a direct object like 'the motion' or 'the proposal'

### 7. to transfer staff

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

to move an employee to a different job or location for a short time.

For teachers: to temporarily transfer an official or worker to another position or department.

- She was seconded to the marketing department for six months.
- The senior engineer was seconded to the overseas branch to oversee the final stages of the infrastructure project.

Usage: often used in the passive voice; pronounced with the stress on the second syllable

Teaching tip: In British professional contexts, this is common; note the pronunciation difference from the time unit.

## Examples

- Wait a second while I grab my keys.
- The race was so close that the winner finished only a fraction of a second ahead of the runner-up.
- In the high-frequency trading environment, a single second represents an eternity, as algorithms execute thousands of transactions before a human can even blink.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.