1
general::
noun
moment:
I will be with you in a second.
verb
endorsed:
He seconded the nomination.
noun
1/60 minute:
Sixty seconds make up a minute., noun
next after first:
He received the second prize.
Simple Definitions
2
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with SECOND, Also see AT SECOND HAND; COME OFF (SECOND BEST); IN A FLASH (SECOND); IN THE FIRST (SECOND) PLACE; ON SECOND THOUGHT; PLAY SECOND FIDDLE; SPLIT SECOND; TOP (SECOND) BANANA.
American Heritage Idioms
3
general::
noun very short moment of time ADJ. brief, fleeting, split I only saw the man for a split second as he ran past. | single | heart-stopping For a heart-stopping second he thought he had lost his keys. VERB + SECOND take This will only take a second. | have Do you have a second, Miss White? | wait Wait a second?this letter's been sent to me by mistake. SECOND + VERB pass, tick by The seconds ticked by. SECOND + NOUN hand PREP. for a ~ For a second I thought you were my mother. | in a ~ I'll be with you in a second. | in/within ~s Within seconds he had disappeared from view. PHRASES a fraction of a second If he'd reacted a fraction of a second later, he would surely have died. | a matter of seconds The end of the match is only a matter of seconds away.MEASURE person/thing that comes next after the first ADJ. close, good | bad, distant, poor | equal, joint | creditable, worthy The young German runner finished a creditable second. VERB + SECOND come, finish PREP. ~ to Sunny Boy came a close second to the winner. university degree ADJ. lower, upper | good VERB + SECOND be awarded, gain, get, obtain PREP. ~ in He got a good second in history.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary