n.
Pronunciation: ' se-k ə n- ˌ der- ē
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 a : of second rank, importance, or value b : of, relating to, or constituting the second strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists <the fourth syllable of basketball team carries secondary stress> c of a tense : expressive of past time
2 a : immediately derived from something original, primary, or basic b : of, relating to, or being the induced current or its circuit in an induction coil or transformer < secondary voltage> c : characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule <a secondary salt> especially : being, characterized by, or attached to a carbon atom having bonds to two other carbon atoms d (1) : not first in order of occurrence or development (2) : dependent or consequent on another disease or condition < secondary hypertension> (3) : produced by activity of formative tissue and especially cambium other than that at a growing point < secondary growth> < secondary phloem>
3 a : of, relating to, or being the second order or stage in a series b : of, relating to, or being the second segment of the wing of a bird or the quills of this segment c : of or relating to a secondary school < secondary education>
– sec · ond · ar · i · ly \ ˌ se-k ə n- ' der- ə -l ē \ adverb
– sec · ond · ar · i · ness \ ' se-k ə n- ˌ der- ē -n ə s \ noun