second ˈhand2 adverbadv 1 if you get something second hand, it is not new and has been used by other people before 作为旧货[二手货]get/buy something second hand We got most of our furniture second hand. 我们大部分家具都是二手货。
2 if you hear something second hand, the person who tells you is not the person who originally said it 间接地,从第二手 It may not be true – I only heard it second hand. 这不一定是真的——我只是从别人那里听来的。
3. if you experience something second hand, you experience it through other people, rather than directly 从他人处;间接地 → (at) first hand at first1(8) get/buy something second hand• They may also like to think very carefully about where to go when buying a second hand car.
From Longman Business Dictionary
second-handˌsecond-ˈhand adjectiveadj not new, and having one or more previous ownersSYN AmE pre-owned, USEDImported second-hand vehicles could eat into the demand for new cars.
—second-hand adverbadvThe solution for small businesses may be to buy their IT equipment second-hand.