secondary

adjectivenouncommon in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈsɛkənd(ə)ɹɪ//
United States//ˈsɛkənˌdɛɹi//

Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.

adjective

1
Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.
2
Originating from a deputy or delegated person or body.
the work of secondary hands
3
Derived from a parent compound by replacement of two atoms of hydrogen by organic radicals.
4
Produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rock mass.
5
Developed by pressure or other causes.
secondary cleavage
6
Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
7
Dependent or consequent upon another disease, or occurring in the second stage of a disease.
Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.
the secondary symptoms of syphilis
8
Of less than primary importance.
a secondary issue
the problem of sexual equality became even more secondary than before in the eyes of the kibbutz and of its women members.
9
Related to secondary education, i.e. schooling between the ages of (approximately) 11 and 18.
10
Relating to the manufacture of goods from raw materials.
11
Formed by mixing primary colors.
Yellow is a secondary light color, though a primary CMYK color.
12
Representing a reversion to an ancestral state.
With the exception of a secondary loss in Dimecoenia, larvae of Ephydrini have prominent, ventral prolegs that bear crochets.

Etymology

From Middle English secundarie, from Latin secundārius (“of the second class or quality”), from secundus (whence the English second) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary), equivalent to second + -ary; compare the French secondaire, the Italian secondario, the Occitan secundari, the Portuguese secundario, and the Spanish secundario.

noun

1
Any flight feather attached to the ulna (forearm) of a bird.
2
A radar return generated by the response of an aircraft's transponder to an interrogation signal broadcast by a radar installation, containing additional encoded identification and situational data not available from a simple primary return.
3
The second stage of a multistage thermonuclear weapon, which generates a fusion explosion when imploded as an indirect result of the fission explosion of the primary, and which, in a few extremely large weapons, itself implodes a fusion tertiary.
4
An act of issuing more stock by an already publicly traded corporation.
5
The defensive backs.
6
An inductive coil or loop that is magnetically powered by a primary in a transformer or similar.
7
One who occupies a subordinate or auxiliary place; a delegate deputy.
the secondary, or undersheriff, of the city of London
Old Escalus […] is thy secondary.
8
A secondary circle.
9
A satellite.
10
A secondary school.
There are four secondaries in this district, each with several thousand pupils.
11
Anything secondary or of lesser importance.
12
Variant of secondary colourEllipsis of secondary colour.

Forms

plural: secondaries
comparative: more secondary
superlative: most secondary

sec · Second, ¹⁄₆₀ of a minute.secluded · Hidden, isolated, remote.second · Number-two; following after the first one with nothing…

secondary · Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.

secondly · In the second place.seconds · A second helping of food for one person, or refill of coffee…secrecy · Concealment; the condition of being secret or hidden.

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