Split-second
/ˌsplɪtˈsɛk(ə)nd/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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. attributive
- 2 A fraction of a second; hence (figurative, also attributive) a very short time period; an instant, a moment.
"It's very dangerous, though, when a man thinks for a split second that he understands death."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"The camera has a split-second shutter time lag of just 0.05 s."
Etymology
From split (adjective) + second (noun), from split second(s) hands: see sense 1.