The term **'sec'** can have several meanings depending on context:

1. **Abbreviation for "second"** – a unit of time equal to one-sixtieth of a minute.
2. **In trigonometry** – short for *secant*, a function that equals \( \frac{1}{\cos(\theta)} \).
3. **In communication or informal speech** – short for "a moment" (e.g., "Wait a sec" means "wait a moment").
4. **In finance** – abbreviation for the *Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)*, a U.S. government agency.

The specific meaning depends on the context in which it’s used.