secondary

secondary
secondary [sek′ən der΄ē]
adj.
[ME secundary < L secundarius]
1. second, or below the first, in rank, importance, class, place, etc.; subordinate; minor; not primary
2.
a) derived or resulting from something considered primary or original; dependent; derivative
b) secondhand; not original [a secondary source of information]
c) designating colors derived by mixing two primary colors: see
3. COLOR (sense 3)
4. coming after that which is first in a series of processes, events, stages, etc., as of growth or development
5. coming next in sequence after the primary or elementary level [secondary education]
6. Chem.
a) formed by the replacement of two atoms or radicals in the molecule [secondary sodium phosphate, Na2HPO4]
b) characterized by or designating a carbon atom that is directly attached to two other carbon atoms in a closed or open chain
7. Elec. designating or of an induced current or its circuit in a transformer, induction coil, etc.
8. Geol. formed as a result of the alteration, disintegration, or erosion of preexisting rocks or minerals
9. Linguis.
a) derived from a base that is itself a word, by the addition of a prefix or derivational suffix
b) designating a form or a process that is historically relatively late; not original
10. Zool. designating or of the long flight feathers attached to the second joint or segment of a bird's wing
n.
pl. secondaries
1. a person or thing that is secondary, subordinate, or inferior
2. any of the secondary colors
3. Elec. an output winding of a transformer from which the power is taken
4. Football the defensive backfield
5. Zool. a secondary feather: see BIRD
secondarily
adv.

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Secondary — Sec ond*a*ry, a. [Cf. F. secondaire, L. secundaire. See {Second}, a.] 1. Succeeding next in order to the first; of second place, origin, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first order or rate. [1913 Webster] Wheresoever there is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • secondary — deleted sense 3 so little evidence old fashioned? sec‧ond‧a‧ry [ˈsekəndri ǁ deri] adjective 1. secondary shares/​bonds etc FINANCE shares, stocks etc in companies that are not considered to be the biggest or most important; = SECOND TIER: • The… …   Financial and business terms

  • Secondary — is an adjective meaning second or second hand . It may refer to: * Secondary education * A secondary consumer in an ecological sense * Secondary dominant, in music * Secondary, in American football and Canadian football, the group of (usually at… …   Wikipedia

  • secondary — sec·ond·ary / se kən ˌder ē/ adj 1: of second rank, status, importance, or value 2: derived from something original or primary 3: of, relating to, or being the second order or stage in a series sec·ond·ar·i·ly /ˌse kən der ə lē/ adv se …   Law dictionary

  • Secondary — Sec ond*a*ry, n.; pl. {Secondaries}. 1. One who occupies a subordinate, inferior, or auxiliary place; a delegate or deputy; one who is second or next to the chief officer; as, the secondary, or undersheriff of the city of London. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • secondary — (adj.) late 14c., from L. secundarius pertaining to the second class, inferior, from secundus (see SECOND (Cf. second) (adj.)). Of colors, from 1831; of education, from 1809. Secondary succession attested from 1905 …   Etymology dictionary

  • secondary — [adj1] subordinate; less important accessory, alternate, auxiliary, backup, bushleague*, collateral, consequential, contingent, dependent, dinky*, extra, inconsiderable, inferior, insignificant, lesser, lower, minor, minor league*, petty, relief …   New thesaurus

  • secondary — adj *subordinate, dependent, subject, tributary, collateral Analogous words: *auxiliary, accessory, subservient, subsidiary, contributory: incidental, *accidental, adventitious Antonyms: primary …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • secondary — A second mail sorting operation that separates mail into finer levels. (Compare with primary and tertiary) …   Glossary of postal terms

  • secondary — ► ADJECTIVE 1) coming after, less important than, or resulting from something primary. 2) relating to education for children from the age of eleven to sixteen or eighteen. DERIVATIVES secondarily adverb …   English terms dictionary

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