SECOND HAND Definition & Meaning

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second hand

[ sek-uhnd hand sek-uhnd hand ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

second-hand

adjective

previously owned or used
not from an original source or experience
dealing in or selling goods that are not new
a second-hand car dealer

adverb

from a source of previously owned or used goods
he prefers to buy second-hand
not directly
he got the news second-hand

second hand

noun

a pointer on the face of a timepiece that indicates the seconds Compare hour hand minute hand

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51�Թ� 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

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

The salvaged materials are sold to costume designers, ravers, and people in the burlesque industry, who save by buying second hand.

From

"When the second hand market becomes more valuable because of rarity, that is problematic because our business is affected."

From

Tom Yuen, 31, from Cardiff, was searching for second hand door panels when he found the note, from 1947, which he says felt like a "handshake through time".

From

"When you're getting second hand information... it was really hard to process exactly what sort of condition that they were in," said Shaun.

From

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

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

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