From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishRelated topics: Chronologysecond handˈsecond ˌhand1 noun [countable]TMCthe long thin piece of metal that points to the seconds on a clock or watchExamples from the Corpussecond hand• The second hand had its own dial at the bottom of the face.• The second hand had stopped where it had met the pininsertednear the 55-second mark.second handsecond ˈhand2 adverb1if you get something second hand, it is not new and has been used by other people beforeget/buy something second hand
We got most of our furniture second hand.2if you hear something second hand, the person who tells you is not the person who originally said it
It may not be true – I only heard it second hand.3if you experience something second hand, you experience it through other people, rather than directly →(at) first handExamples from the Corpusget/buy something second hand• They may also like to think very carefully about where to go when buying a second hand car.second-handˌsecond-ˈhand, secondhand /ˌsekəndˈhænd◂/ ●●○ adjective1OLD/NOT NEWsecond-hand things are not new when you get them, because they were owned by someone else before you
second-hand clothes
a second-hand carsecondhand store/shop etc (=a shop that sells second-hand things)2second-hand information or knowledge is told to you by someone who is not the person who originally said it – used to show disapprovalOPP first-handsecond-hand reports/accounts
second-hand accounts of mass killingsExamples from the Corpussecond-hand• "Is that table new?" "No, we got it second-hand."• Do you know where I can buy a second-handbicycle?• Maxspent the wholeafternoon looking around a second-hand book store.• Estateagentsrank in public esteem with double-glazing salesmen, second-hand car dealers - behind even politicians and journalists.• For examplesecond-hand car deals are usually contracts for the sale of specific goods.• second-handclothing• This outfit specialises in resellingsecond-handequipment.second-hand reports/accounts• But as is often the case with such second-hand reports, they were never amplified by other segments of the nationalmedia.From Longman Business Dictionarysecond-handˌsecond-ˈhand adjectivenot new, and having one or more previousownersSYNpre-owned AmE, USEDImported second-hand vehicles could eat into the demand for new cars. —second-hand adverbThe solution for small businesses may be to buy their IT equipment second-hand.
