second-rate adjective 2noun 1forms 2 adjective2 •Of mediocre quality; not first-rate.They are intrigued by Mrs Deelville; she is dowdy, languid-voiced, and ill-dressed, in every way appearing second-rate, who nonetheless - rather tiresomely - seems to have the knack of attracting men. — 1888 •(UK, historical) Of a Royal Navy ship of the line in the Napoleonic Era: having 80–98 guns across three gun decks, a complement of 700–750, and weighing approximately 2,200 tons burthen. noun1 •(UK, historical) A second-rate ship of the line. formssecond rates · second-rates
