split-second

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See also: split second

English

WOTD – 7 September 2024

Etymology

From split (adjective) +‎ second (noun), from split second(s) hands: see sense 1.[1][2]

Pronunciation

Noun

split-second (plural split-seconds)

  2. (chiefly 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.
  3. A fraction of a second; hence (figurative, also attributive) a very short time period; an instant, a moment.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:moment
    • 1912, G K 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's very dangerous, though, when a man thinks for a split second that he understands death.
    • 1959, William Golding, chapter 4, in Free Fall, Harbinger Books edition, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace & World, published 1962, →OCLC, page 82:
      I was in the gutter, sitting my bike, willing them to die, […] or otherwise obliterated because this demanded split-second timing.
    • 2021 September 15, Laura Martin, “How Talent Shows Became TV’s Most Bizarre Programmes”, in BBC Online‎, archived from the original on 2023-04-18:
      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.

Alternative forms

Translations

See also

References

  1. ^ “split-second, adj. and n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2023.
  2. ^ “split second, n.”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

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