📖 S — The English dictionary · page 21

sec — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) A very short time; short for "second".↗ e.g. "wait a sec".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Abbreviation for second (of time): 30 sec.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (maths, older pupils) Short for secant, a function of an angle.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Abbreviation for secretary.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Sec. is a short way of writing section, a numbered part of a book or law.↗ Example: Wait a sec, I'm coming!↗ · Hang on a sec, I need my coat.↗ · The runner finished in 12.5 sec.↗ · I'll be back in a sec.↗ · The video is 45 sec long.↗ · Give me a sec to think.↗ · Benfey, Pantschatantra, Einleitung, Sec.201).↗ [Footnote: It occurs in the same chapter as the story of La Perrette, which has been traced, after Benfey, by Prof.↗

secluded — Everyday, meaning 1: Quiet and private, away from people and busy places.↗ Example: They walked along a secluded path in the woods.↗ · The old hermit lived in a secluded cave.↗ · Let's find a secluded spot to read.↗

seclusion — Everyday, meaning 1: The state of being alone and away from other people.↗ Example: She lived in seclusion on the farm.↗ · The king stayed in seclusion for a week.↗ · After the storm they lived in seclusion, seeing no one.↗

second — Everyday, meaning 1: A second is a very short unit of time.↗ A minute has 60 seconds.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Second means number 2 in order, after the first.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: «A second» in speech means a very short time: «Wait a second».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Seconds are a second helping of food.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: To second an idea is to say you agree with it in a meeting.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: A second is also a unit for angles: 60 seconds make one minute of a degree.↗ Everyday, meaning 7: (casual) «Sec» and «a sec» mean a short time: «hang on a sec», «2 secs»; «seconds?» asks for more food.↗ Everyday, meaning 8: (casual) «Seconds» are also goods sold cheap because they have small faults.↗ Everyday, meaning 9: (formal) «Subsequent» and «the latter» are stiff words for second in order; «second» as a verb (pronounced «se-COND», UK) means to move a worker to another job for a while.↗ Example: He ran 100 m in 15 seconds.↗ · A minute has 60 seconds.↗ · On the second day she read 20 pages.↗ · She came second in the race.↗ · Wait a second, I can't find my shoe.↗ · Can I have seconds, please?↗ The soup is lovely.↗ · The second hand on the clock moves once each second.↗ · Light travels very fast, about 300,000 km in one second.↗ · We bought a second-hand bike for half the price.↗ · hang on a sec, my phone's on 2% (casual)↗ · Wait a bloody second, you said 5 not 6!↗ (rough)↗ · On the subsequent day a further 20 pages were read; determine the total for the two days.↗ (formal exam)↗ · And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bore Jacob a second son.↗ (Torah GEN.30.12, JPS 1917)↗ · And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.↗ (Torah GEN.1.8, JPS 1917)↗ · and the second row a carbuncle, a sapphire, and an emerald; (Torah EXO.28.18, JPS 1917)↗ · Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third; (Writings 1CH.12.10, JPS 1917)↗ · The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.↗ (Writings 1CH.23.20, JPS 1917)↗ · Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah; (Writings 1CH.24.7, JPS 1917)↗

secondary — Everyday, meaning 1: Secondary means second in importance or less important.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Secondary school (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) is the school children go to after primary school, about age 11–18.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Secondary means coming after or caused by something else.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (art) Secondary colours are made by mixing two primary colours.↗ Example: My big sister goes to secondary school.↗ · Orange is a secondary colour made from red and yellow.↗ · A history book is a secondary source.↗ · Winning is secondary; having fun matters most.↗ · The fire caused secondary damage from the water.↗ · Green is a secondary colour: blue + yellow.↗

secondly — Everyday, meaning 1: Secondly means «in the second place» and is used to give the second point in a list of reasons or steps, after «firstly» or «first».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: It helps a reader or listener follow an argument step by step.↗ Example: Firstly, wash your hands; secondly, put on your apron.↗ · I can't come, firstly because I'm ill and secondly because it's raining.↗ · Secondly, multiply the answer by three.↗ · Schools should have longer breaks: firstly, we need exercise; secondly, we learn better after playing.↗ · Secondly, the knight rescued the dragon instead of fighting it.↗ · In my persuasive letter, I wrote my second reason after «secondly».↗ · Secondly, check your answer by doing the opposite operation.↗

secrecy — Everyday, meaning 1: Secrecy is keeping something secret so others do not find out.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Secrecy is the state of being secret.↗ Example: The surprise party was planned in great secrecy.↗ · We were sworn to secrecy about the present.↗ · The spies worked in total secrecy.↗ · Secrecy was important in the treasure hunt.↗ · Don't keep secrets that make you feel scared — secrecy like that is not okay.↗ · It must be done in all secrecy, and the priest must not know of it, otherwise I shall get into trouble, as it is forbidden.↗

secret — Everyday, meaning 1: A secret is something you keep hidden and do not tell others.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Secret means hidden or known by only a few people: «a secret door».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The secret of something is the special way to do it well: «the secret of a good cake».↗ Example: I think of a secret number, add 4 and get 11.↗ · Find the secret number.↗ · The secret code has 3 digits.↗ · She kept the secret.↗ · We planned a secret birthday party for Dad.↗ · If a secret makes you feel bad, tell a trusted adult.↗ · The old house had a secret passage behind the bookcase.↗ · The secret of good bread is patience.↗ · They met in secret behind the shed.↗ · I will not tell your secret.↗ · Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour in secret.↗ (Torah DEU.27.24, JPS 1917)↗ · And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.↗ (Torah EXO.8.7, JPS 1917)↗ · Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts.↗ (Torah EXO.7.11, JPS 1917)↗ · For He knoweth the secrets of the heart.↗ (Writings PSA.44.22, JPS 1917)↗ · 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'↗ (Writings PRO.9.17, JPS 1917)↗ · Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another; (Writings PRO.25.9, JPS 1917)↗

secretary — Everyday, meaning 1: A secretary is a person whose job is to help in an office by typing letters, answering the phone, keeping records and arranging meetings.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The school secretary works in the school office and deals with visitors, absences, lunch money and phone calls.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A Secretary (in government) is the head of a government department, such as the Home Secretary (UK) or the Secretary of State (USA).↗ Everyday, meaning 4: The secretary of a club writes down what happens at meetings.↗ Example: The school secretary phoned my mum when I felt sick.↗ · Hand your letter to the secretary in the office.↗ · The Home Secretary spoke on the news.↗ · My aunt is a secretary at a law firm.↗ · Our club voted Maya as secretary.↗ · The secretary wrote down what was said at the meeting.↗ · The Secretary of State visited Canada.↗

secrete — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) To secrete is to make and give out a liquid or substance from a part of a plant or animal body: glands secrete sweat, tears and saliva.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) To secrete something can also mean to hide it secretly.↗ Example: Your mouth secretes saliva when you smell food.↗ · Bees secrete wax to build their honeycomb.↗ · Some frogs secrete poison through their skin.↗ · The stomach secretes acid to digest food.↗ · Sweat glands secrete sweat to cool you down.↗ · Snails secrete slime so they can slide along.↗ · (formal) She secreted the key inside her shoe.↗

secretion — Everyday, meaning 1: A liquid that a living thing makes and lets out, such as saliva, sweat, tears, mucus or sap.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The process of making and releasing such a liquid.↗ Example: Saliva is a secretion from glands in your mouth.↗ · Sweat is a secretion that helps cool your body.↗ · The snail left a trail of sticky secretion.↗ · Some frogs have poisonous skin secretions.↗ · Bees make wax from a secretion of their bodies.↗ · The secretion of tears keeps your eyes clean.↗

secretly — Everyday, meaning 1: Secretly means in a way that other people do not see or know about.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Secretly can describe a feeling you keep inside and do not show, like being secretly pleased.↗ Example: We secretly made a birthday card for Mum.↗ · He was secretly happy that the match was cancelled.↗ · The squirrel secretly buried nuts in the garden.↗ · She secretly read the last page first.↗ · The children secretly planned a surprise party for their teacher.↗ · The spy secretly copied the map.↗ · I secretly hoped it would snow.↗ · If someone asks you to secretly meet them, tell a parent.↗ · The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do.↗ · Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and outwit me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp; (Torah GEN.31.27, JPS 1917)↗ · and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, she being defiled secretly, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken in the act; (Torah NUM.5.13, JPS 1917)↗ · He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.↗ (Writings JOB.13.10, JPS 1917)↗ · And my heart hath been secretly enticed, and my mouth hath kissed my hand; (Writings JOB.31.27, JPS 1917)↗ · Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.↗ (Writings JOB.4.12, JPS 1917)↗

sect — Everyday, meaning 1: A small group of people who share strong beliefs, often one that has split away from a larger religion.↗ Example: The sect met in a small hall to pray.↗ · Members of the sect wore plain grey clothes.↗ · The sect kept to itself and did not join the town's feasts.↗ · The Third sect recognised no god beside the Sun, in which it recognised the sole principle of existence."↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · The Second sect admitted Three great Powers ; two of them as in the first case, and a third Power whose function was to decide between (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · The Second sect admitted Three great Powers; two of them as in the first case, and a third Power whose function was to decide between [p. 7] the two others, a supreme arbitrator.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

section — Everyday, meaning 1: A section is one part of something that is split into parts, like a section of a fence, a book or an orange.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A section is a part of a group or place: the music section, the children's section of the library.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A cross-section is what you see when you cut straight through something.↗ Example: The fence has 8 sections, each 2 m long.↗ · The book has 5 sections of 20 pages.↗ · She planted 9 seeds in each section.↗ · A pizza is cut into 8 sections.↗ · Find the picture books in the children's section.↗ · An orange has many sections.↗ · Answer every question in section A.↗ · The cross-section of the trunk showed 40 rings.↗ · With one more legend about this favorite saint, I will conclude this section of the present chapter.↗ · 35) Compare Chapter I, Section 3, Note, 8.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · N] = original page markers; [N] = note references (notes are in sy08 section).↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · The twelve sections of this chapter introduce this philo- sophic disquisition upon the Formation and Development of the Universe.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

sector — Everyday, meaning 1: (maths) A sector is a part of a circle between two radii and the curve, shaped like a slice of pie.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A sector is a part or area of a place, like a part of a city.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A sector is one part of a country's business or work, like farming or health.↗ Example: Each sector of the pie chart shows one favourite fruit.↗ · A quarter of a circle is a sector with an angle of 90 degrees.↗ · The farm sector employs many people.↗ · The soldiers patrolled their sector of the city.↗ · The biggest sector of the chart was football.↗ · Shade the sector between the two radii.↗

secularism — Everyday, meaning 1: The belief that religion should be kept separate from government, public schools and laws.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A way of living or thinking that is not based on religion.↗ Example: France has strong rules of secularism in its schools.↗ · Secularism means the government does not favour any religion.↗ · Some people support secularism; others want religion in public life.↗ · The USA's founders wrote secularism into the constitution by separating church and state.↗ · Secularism does not mean being against religion.↗ · Our class debated secularism in schools.↗

secure — Everyday, meaning 1: Secure means safe, protected from danger or harm.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Secure means firmly fixed so it will not move or fall.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To secure something is to fix it firmly or to lock it.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To secure something is to get it after trying, like secure a place on the team.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Feeling secure means feeling safe and not worried.↗ Example: He uses 4 nails to secure each board.↗ · The box is secure.↗ · They secured 3 more seats.↗ · How many nails do you need to secure 10 boards?↗ · Make sure your bike is secure before you leave it.↗ · Choose a secure password that nobody can guess.↗ · The climbers secured the rope to a rock.↗ · The baby felt secure in her father's arms.↗ · Our class secured first place in the quiz.↗ · ‘Are you sure it is secure?’↗ · Wherefore are all they secure that deal very treacherously?↗ (Prophets JER.12.1, JPS 1917)↗ · The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are secure as a young lion.↗ (Writings PRO.28.1, JPS 1917)↗ · And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.↗ (Prophets ISA.32.18, JPS 1917)↗