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secondary

 - 7 dictionary results

sec⋅ond⋅ar⋅y

  [sek-uhn-der-ee] adjective, noun, plural -ar⋅ies.
Use secondary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. next after the first in order, place, time, etc.
2. belonging or pertaining to a second order, division, stage, period, rank, grade, etc.
3. derived or derivative; not primary or original: secondary sources of historical research.
4. of minor or lesser importance; subordinate; auxiliary.
5. of or pertaining to secondary schools.
6. Chemistry.
a. involving or obtained by the replacement of two atoms or groups.
b. noting or containing a carbon atom united to two other carbon atoms in a chain or ring molecule.
7. Electricity. noting or pertaining to the current induced by a primary winding or to the winding in which the current is induced in an induction coil, transformer, or the like.
8. Geology. noting or pertaining to a mineral produced from another mineral by decay, alteration, or the like.
9. Grammar.
a. derived.
b. derived from a word that is itself a derived word: a secondary derivative.
c. having reference to past time; noting or pertaining to a past tense: the Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit secondary tenses. Compare primary (def. 13).
10. Ornithology. pertaining to any of a set of flight feathers on the second segment of a bird's wing.
11. Linguistics. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a secondary accent: secondary stress.
–noun
12. a person or thing that is secondary.
13. a subordinate, assistant, deputy, or agent.
14. Electricity. a winding in a transformer or the like in which a current is induced by a primary winding.
15. Ornithology. a secondary feather.
16. Football. the defensive unit that lines up behind the linemen.
17. Linguistics. secondary accent.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L secundārius. See second 1 , -ary

Related forms:
sec⋅ond⋅ar⋅i⋅ly  [sek-uhn-der-uh-lee, sek-uhn-dair-] , adverb
sec⋅ond⋅ar⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
4. alternate, subsidiary, backup.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To secondary
sec·ond·ar·y   (sěk'ən-děr'ē)   
adj.  

    1. Of the second rank; not primary.

    2. Inferior.

    3. Minor; lesser.

  2. Derived from what is primary or original: a secondary source; a secondary infection.

  3. Of, relating to, or being the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.

  4. Electricity Having an induced current that is generated by an inductively coupled primary. Used of a circuit or coil.

  5. Chemistry Characterized or formed by replacement of two atoms or radicals within a molecule. Used of a compound.

  6. Geology Produced from another mineral by decay or alteration.

  7. Of or relating to a secondary school: secondary education.

  8. Of or relating to a secondary color or colors.

  9. Being a degree of health care intermediate between that offered in a physician's office and that available at a research hospital, as the care typically offered at a clinic or community hospital.

  10. Botany Of, relating to, or derived from a lateral meristem, especially a cambium.

n.   pl. sec·ond·ar·ies

  1. One that acts in an auxiliary, subordinate, or inferior capacity.

  2. One of the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.

  3. Electricity A coil or circuit having an induced current.

    1. Astronomy A celestial body that revolves around another; a satellite.

    2. The dimmer star of a binary star system.

  5. A secondary color.

  6. Football The defensive backfield.

sec'ond·ar'i·ly (-dâr'ə-lē) adv., sec'ond·ar'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

secondary  (adj.)
1386, from L. secundarius "pertaining to the second class, inferior," from secundus (see second (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: sec·ond·ary
Pronunciation: 'se-k&n-"der-E
Function: adjective
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 /"se-k&n-'der-&-lE/ adverb —sec·ond·ar·i·ness /'se-k&n-"der-E-n&s/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: sec·ond·ary
Pronunciation: 'sek-&n-"der-E
Function: adjective
1 : not first in order of occurrence or development: as a : dependent or consequent on another disease <secondary hypertension> secondary to scarlet fever> b : occurringor being in the second stage <secondary symptoms of syphilis> c : occurring some time after the original injury secondary hemorrhage>
2 : characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule secondary salt>; especially : being, characterized by, or attached toa carbon atom having bonds to two other carbon atoms
3 : relating to or being the three-dimensional coiling of the polypeptide chain of a protein especially in the form of analpha-helix —compare PRIMARY 4, TERTIARY 2c —sec·ond·ari·ly /"sek-&n-'der-&-lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

secondary sec·ond·ar·y (sěk'ən-děr'ē)
adj.

  1. Of the second rank; not primary.

  2. Inferior.

  3. Minor; lesser.

  4. Derived from what is primary or original.

  5. Of or relating to a chemical compound characterized or formed by replacement of two atoms or radicals within a molecule.

  6. Of, relating to, or being a degree of health care intermediate between that offered in a physician's office and that available at a research hospital, as the care typically offered at a clinic or community hospital.

sec'ond·ar'i·ly (-dâr'ə-lē) adv.
sec'ond·ar'i·ness n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
secondary   (sěk'ən-děr'ē)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. Relating to a secondary color.

  2. Relating to or derived from either of the lateral meristems (the cork cambium or the vascular cambium) of vascular plants. For example, secondary xylem in a stem is produced by the vascular cambium, as opposed to primary xylem produced by the apical meristem during the original growth of the stem from a seedling. See also secondary growth.

    1. Relating to or having a carbon atom that is attached to two other carbon atoms in a molecule.

    2. Relating to an organic molecule, such as an alcohol, in which the functional group is attached to a secondary carbon.

  4. Relating to a medical condition that arises as a result of another disorder, disease process, or injury. Compare primary, tertiary.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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