second noun
1 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. > Note at MEASURE
2 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.
3 university degree
ADJ. lower, upper | good
VERB + SECOND be awarded, gain, get, obtain
PREP. ~ in He got a good second in history.
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