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View synonyms for second hand

second hand

[ sek-uhnd hand sek-uhnd hand ]

noun

  1. the hand that indicates the seconds on a clock or watch.
  2. an assistant or helper, as to a worker or foreman.


second-hand

1

adjective

  1. previously owned or used
  2. not from an original source or experience
  3. dealing in or selling goods that are not new

    a second-hand car dealer

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. from a source of previously owned or used goods

    he prefers to buy second-hand

  2. not directly

    he got the news second-hand

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

second hand

2

noun

  1. a pointer on the face of a timepiece that indicates the seconds Compare hour hand minute hand
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of second hand1

1425–75 second hand fordef 3; 1750–60 second hand fordef 1; late Middle English
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. at second hand, from or through an intermediate source or means; secondhand:

    She had the news at second hand.

More idioms and phrases containing second hand

see at second hand .
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Example Sentences

If you're using the Black Friday sale to buy Christmas presents you should not rule out buying second hand, according to a new report.

From BBC

The jury were told Mr Khalife had bought a second hand phone and made a search for “Can a phone be tracked from IMEI?”

From BBC

Like the second hand of a clock, time cells fire in sequence to map out short periods of time.

In fact, the scientists did not grab the treat with their second hand, therefore leading those monkeys that had opposable thumbs to be surprised when discovering it was still in the first hand.

From Salon

There is no second hand on the clock.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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