secondary

sec·ond·ary

adj \ˈsek-ən-ˌder-ē\

Definition of SECONDARY

1

: not first in order of occurrence or development: as a : dependent or consequent on another disease <secondary diabetes> <Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever> b : occurring or being in the second stage <secondary symptoms of syphilis> c : occurring some time after the original injury <a secondary hemorrhage>

2

: characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule <a secondary salt>; especially : being, characterized by, or attached to a carbon atom having bonds to two other carbon atoms

3

: relating to or being the three-dimensional coiling of the polypeptide chain of a protein especially in the form of an alpha-helix—compare primary 4, tertiary 2c

—sec·ond·ari·ly \ˌsek-ən-ˈder-ə-lē\ adverb