Dictionary

split-second en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌsplɪtˈsɛk(ə)nd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsplɪtˈsɛkənd/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From split (adjective) + second (noun), from split second(s) hands: see sense 1.

Meanings

1. (attributive) A stopwatch with two second hands, each of which may be stopped separately to time the intervals of a race by a sportsperson, or to time more than one sportsperson.
2. A fraction of a second; hence (figurative, also attributive) a very short time period; an instant, a moment.
   • I was in the gutter, sitting my bike, willing them to die, […] or otherwise obliterated because this demanded split-second timing. 1959, William Golding, chapter 4, in Free Fall, Harbinger Books edition, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace & World, published 1962, →OCLC, page 82:
   • It's very dangerous, though, when a man thinks for a split second that he understands death. 1912, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, “The Eye of Death; or, The Murder Charge”, in Manalive, New York, N.Y.: John Lane, →OCLC, part II (The Explanations of Innocent Smith), page 182:
   • It appears [Simon] Cowell has been taking notes from South Korea, as his next talent show Walk The Line, coming later this year, has also been game-ified: it will see singers perform, then have to make the split-second decision of whether to take a cash prize or risk advancing in the competition instead. 2021 September 15, Laura Martin, “How Talent Shows Became TV’s Most Bizarre Programmes”, in BBC Online, archived from the original on 18 Apr 2023:

Forms

Descendants

split second

Relateds

nick of time

Synonyms

second · twinkle · trice · minute · sec · twink · tick · instant · bit · jot · flash · twinkling · blink of an eye · split-second · eyeblink · crack · glimpse · bat of an eye · moment · span · no time · New York second · spurt · stound · jiff · New York minute · half a mo · mo · jiffy · while

Translations (20)

fi väliaikaa tukeva (stopwatch with two second hands) · vi tích tắc (fraction of a second; very short time period) · vi sát na (fraction of a second; very short time period) · de Sekundenbruchteil (fraction of a second; very short time period) · cmn 剎那 /刹那 (fraction of a second; very short time period) · tr salise (fraction of a second; very short time period) · vi tức khắc (fraction of a second; very short time period) · fi sekunnin murto-osa (fraction of a second; very short time period) · cmn 一瞬間 /一瞬间 (fraction of a second; very short time period) · it frazione di secondo (fraction of a second; very short time period) · ja 刹那 (fraction of a second; very short time period) · yo òjijì (fraction of a second; very short time period) · pl ułamek sekundy (fraction of a second; very short time period) · vi chớp mắt (fraction of a second; very short time period) · fr fraction de seconde (fraction of a second; very short time period) · vi nháy mắt (fraction of a second; very short time period) · cmn 一剎那 /一刹那 (fraction of a second; very short time period) · nl fractie van een seconde (fraction of a second; very short time period) · fi rattrapante (stopwatch with two second hands) · lt akimirka (fraction of a second; very short time period)