Library / English Dictionary

SECOND HAND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hand marking seconds on a timepiece

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("second hand" is a kind of...):

hand (a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "second hand"):

sweep-second; sweep hand (a second hand that is mounted on the same center as the hour and minute hand and is read on the minutes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An intermediate person; used in the phrase 'at second hand'

Example:

he could learn at second hand from books

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("second hand" is a kind of...):

go-between; intercessor; intermediary; intermediator; mediator (a negotiator who acts as a link between parties)

 II. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

From a source of previously owned goods

Example:

I prefer to buy second hand

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

secondhand (previously used or owned by another)

Credits