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1 number
Related topics: Numbers
sec‧ond1 S1 W1
1HMN the second person, thing, event etc is the one that comes after the first:
the Second World War
the second of August
a second year student
his second wife
Clinton's second term in office
the second half of the year
the second time in three days
2 the position in a competition or scale that comes after the one that is the best, most successful etc:
She won second prize.
They climbed to second place in the League.
second largest/most successful etc
Africa's second highest mountain
We advertised for a second guitarist.
There was a second reason for his dismissal.

every second year/person/thing etc

a) the second, then the fourth, then the sixth year etc:
The nurse comes every second day.
b) used to emphasize that in a group of similar things, there is too much of one particular thing:
Every second house seemed to be boarded up.

be second to none

to be the best:
The quality of Britain's overseas aid programme is second to none.

second chance

help given to someone who has failed, in the hope that they will succeed this time:
I just want to give these kids a second chance.

have second thoughts

to start having doubts about a decision you have made:
You're not having second thoughts, are you?
have second thoughts about
She'd had second thoughts about the whole project.

on second thoughts

British English on second thought American English spoken used to say that you have changed your mind about something:
I'll call her tomorrow - no, on second thought, I'll try now.

not give something a second thought/without a second thought

used to say that someone does not think or worry about something:
She dismissed the rumour without a second thought.

not give something a second glance/look

also without a second glance/look to not look at something again, because you have not really noticed it or because it does not seem important:
No-one gave the woman in the grey uniform a second glance.

be/become second nature (to somebody)

something that is second nature to you is something you have done so often that you do it almost without thinking:
Driving becomes second nature after a while.

second wind

a new feeling of energy after you have been working or exercising very hard, and had thought you were too tired to continue:
He got his second wind and ran on.

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