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Leap Second

Definition(s):

  A second added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to make it agree with astronomical time to within 0.9 second. UTC is an atomic time scale based on the performance of atomic clocks. Astronomical time is based on the rotational rate of the Earth. Since atomic clocks are more stable than the rate at which the Earth rotates, leap seconds are needed to keep the two time scales in agreement.
Source(s):
NISTIR 8323 from NIST T&F Glossary - Adapted