I. ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē 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 ˌse-kən-ˈder-ə-lē adverb
• sec·ond·ar·i·ness ˈse-kən-ˌder-ē-nəs noun
II. noun
( plural -ar·ies )
Date: 15th century
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