ssss
Definition(s) of “S”
s
abbreviation
• second(s).
• Law section (of an act).
• shilling(s).
• Grammar singular.
• Chemistry solid.
• (in genealogies) son(s).
• succeeded.
• Chemistry denoting electrons and orbitals possessing zero angular momentum and total symmetry : s-electrons. [ORIGIN: s from sharp, originally applied to lines in atomic spectra.]
symbol
(in mathematical formulae) distance.
second 2 |ˈsekənd|
noun
1 (abbr.: s) a sixtieth of a minute of time, which as the SI unit of time is defined in terms of the natural periodicity of the radiation of a cesium-133 atom. (Symbol: ″)
• informal a very short time : his eyes met Charlotte's for a second.
2 (also arc second or second of arc) a sixtieth of a minute of angular distance. (Symbol: ″)
ORIGIN late Middle English : from medieval Latin secunda (minuta) ‘second (minute),’ feminine (used as a noun) of secundus, referring to the “second” operation of dividing an hour by sixty.
-s 1
suffix
denoting the plurals of nouns (as in apples, wagons, etc.). Compare with -es 1 .
ORIGIN Old English plural ending -as.
-s 2
suffix
forming the third person singular of the present of verbs (as in sews, vaunts, etc.). Compare with -es 2 .
ORIGIN Old English dialect.
-s 3
suffix
1 forming adverbs such as afterwards, besides.
2 forming possessive pronouns such as hers, ours.
ORIGIN Old English -es, masculine and neuter genitive singular ending.
-s 4
suffix
forming nicknames or hypocoristics : Pops.
ORIGIN suggested by -s 1 .
S 1 |es| (also s)
noun ( pl. Ss or S's |esiz|)
1 the nineteenth letter of the alphabet.
• denoting the next after R in a set of items, categories, etc.
2 a shape like that of a capital S : [in combination ] an S-bend.
S 2
abbreviation
• (chiefly in Catholic use) Saint : S Ignatius Loyola.
• siemens.
• small (as a clothes size).
• South or Southern : 65° S.
• Biochemistry Svedberg unit(s).
symbol
• the chemical element sulfur.
• Chemistry entropy.
saint |sānt|
noun
1 a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and typically regarded as being in heaven after death.
• (in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches) a person formally recognized or canonized by the Church after death, who may be the object of veneration and prayers for intercession.
• a person who is admired or venerated because of their virtue : he was considered a living saint by recipients of his generosity.
• (in or alluding to biblical use) a Christian believer.
• ( Saint) a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; a Mormon.
2 ( Saint) (abbr.: St. or S.) used in titles of religious saints : the epistles of Saint Paul | St. John's Church.
• used in place names or other dedications : St. Louis | St. Lawrence River.
verb [ trans. ]
formally recognize as a saint; canonize.
• [as adj. ] ( sainted |ˈsāntid|) worthy of being a saint; very virtuous : the story of his sainted sister Eileen.
DERIVATIVES
sainthood |-ˌhoŏd| noun
saintlike |-ˌlīk| adjective
ORIGIN Middle English , from Old French seint, from Latin sanctus ‘holy,’ past participle of sancire ‘consecrate.’
siemens |ˈsēmənz| (abbr.: S)
noun Physics
the SI unit of conductance, equal to one reciprocal ohm.
ORIGIN 1930s: named after K. W. von Siemens .
Svedberg |ˈsfedˌbərg; ˈsved-| (also Svedberg unit) (abbr.: S)
noun Biochemistry
a unit of time equal to 10 −13 seconds, used in expressing sedimentation coefficients.
entropy |ˈentrəpē|
noun Physics
a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system. (Symbol: S)
• figurative lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder : a marketplace where entropy reigns supreme.
• (in information theory) a logarithmic measure of the rate of transfer of information in a particular message or language.
DERIVATIVES
entropic |enˈträpik| adjective
entropically |enˈträpik(ə)lē| adverb
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from en- 2 [inside] + Greek tropē ‘transformation.’