adj 1  :  not first in order of occurrence or development: as  a  :  dependent or consequent on another disease < hypertension>  <Bright's disease is often to scarlet fever>   b  :  occurring or being in the second stage < symptoms of syphilis>   c  :  occurring some time after the original injury <a hemorrhage>   2  :  characterized by or resulting from the substitution of two atoms or groups in a molecule <a salt>  : esp  :  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 esp. in the form of an alpha-helix - compare PRIMARY4 TERTIARY2c   sec*ond*ari*ly adv 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  sig·na·ture 
 
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