leap second
English
Etymology
1971;[1] derived from the terminology for leap day/leap year.
Noun
leap second (plural leap seconds)
- A second of time added to the year occasionally to compensate for variation in the rate of Earth's rotation relative to the absolute standards of time.
Related terms
Translations
a second of time added to the year occasionally to compensate for variation in the rate of Earth's rotation relative to the absolute standards of time
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References
- ^ “leap second”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. "First Known Use of leap second 1971, in the meaning defined above"
Further reading
- “leap second”, in Collins English Dictionary.
- “leap second, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- “leap second”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “leap second” in TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2025.