Meaning of split-second | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A stopwatch with two second hands, each of which may be stopped separately to time the intervals of a race by a sportsperson, or to time more than one sportsperson.
   attributive
2. A fraction of a second; hence (figurative, also attributive) a very short time period; an instant, a moment.

Equivalents

Examples

“It's very dangerous, though, when a man thinks for a split second that he understands death.”

“I was in the gutter, sitting my bike, willing them to die, […] or otherwise obliterated because this demanded split-second timing.”

“It appears [Simon] Cowell has been taking notes from South Korea, as his next talent show Walk The Line, coming later this year, has also been game-ified: it will see singers perform, then have to make the split-second decision of whether to take a cash prize or risk advancing in the competition instead.”

CEFR level