[sec.ond.ary] adj (14c) 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 ~ 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 "~ voltage" c: characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule "a ~ salt"; esp: 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): produced by activity of formative tissue and esp. cambium other than that at a growing point "~ growth" "~ 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 "~ education" -- sec.ond.ar.i.ly adv -- sec.ond.ar.i.ness n
[2]secondary n, pl -ar.ies (15c) 1: one occupying a subordinate or auxiliary position rather than that of a principal
2: a defensive football backfield
3: the coil through which the secondary current passes in an induction coil or transformer--called also secondary coil
4: any of the quill feathers of the forearm of a bird--see wing illustration