prime

[ prahym ]

/ praɪm /

adjective

of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration: a prime requisite.

of the greatest relevance or significance: a prime example.

of the highest eminence or rank: the prime authority on Chaucer.

of the greatest commercial value: prime building lots.

first-rate: This ale is prime!

(of meat, especially of beef) noting or pertaining to the first grade or best quality: prime ribs of beef.

first in order of time, existence, or development; earliest; primitive.

basic; fundamental: the prime axioms of his philosophy.

Mathematics. (of any two or more numbers) having no common divisor except unity: The number 2 is prime to 9.

noun

the most flourishing stage or state.

the time of early manhood or womanhood: the prime of youth.

the period or state of greatest perfection or vigor of human life: a man in his prime.

the choicest or best part of anything.

(especially in the grading of U.S. beef) a grade, classification, or designation indicating the highest or most desirable quality.

the beginning or earliest stage of any period.

the spring of the year.

the first hour or period of the day, after sunrise.

Banking. prime rate.

Ecclesiastical. the second of the seven canonical hours or the service for it, originally fixed for the first hour of the day.

Mathematics.

prime number.
one of the equal parts into which a unit is primarily divided.
the mark (′) indicating such a division: a, a′.

Fencing. the first of eight defensive positions.

Music.

unison(def 2).
(in a scale) the tonic or keynote.

Linguistics. any basic, indivisible unit used in linguistic analysis.

Metallurgy. a piece of tin plate free from visible defects.

verb (used with object), primed, prim·ing.

to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose or operation.

to supply (a firearm) with powder for communicating fire to a charge.

to lay a train of powder to (a charge, mine, etc.).

to pour or admit liquid into (a pump) to expel air and prepare for action.

to put fuel into (a carburetor) before starting an engine, in order to insure a sufficiently rich mixture at the start.

to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat or color, as in painting.

to supply or equip with information, words, etc., for use: The politician was primed by his aides for the press conference.

to harvest the bottom leaves from (a tobacco plant).

verb (used without object), primed, prim·ing.

(of a boiler) to deliver or discharge steam containing an excessive amount of water.

to harvest the bottom leaves from a tobacco plant.

Origin of prime

before 1000; 1910–15 for def 5; (adj.) Middle English (< Old French prim) < Latin prīmus first (superlative corresponding to prior prior¹); (noun) in part derivative of the adj.; in part continuing Middle English prim(e) first canonical hour, Old English prim < Latin prīma ( hōra) first (hour); (v.) apparently derivative of the adj.

SYNONYMS FOR prime

1 primary.

7 Prime, primeval, primitive have reference to that which is first. Prime means first in numerical order or order of development: prime meridian; prime cause. Primeval means belonging to the first or earliest ages: the primeval forest. Primitive suggests the characteristics of the origins or early stages of a development, and hence implies the simplicity of original things: primitive tribes, conditions, ornaments, customs, tools.

OTHER WORDS FROM prime

prime·ness, noun non·prime, adjective re·prime, verb (used with object), re·primed, re·prim·ing. self-primed, adjective

un·primed, adjective well-primed, adjective

Words nearby prime

primates, primateship, primatology, primavera, primaveral, prime, prime cost, prime field, prime focus, prime ideal, prime interest rate

British Dictionary definitions for non-prime

prime

/ (praɪm) /

adjective

(prenominal) first in quality or value; first-rate

(prenominal) fundamental; original

(prenominal) first in importance, authority, etc; chief

maths

having no factors except itself or onex² + x + 3 is a prime polynomial
(foll by to) having no common factors (with)20 is prime to 21

finance having the best credit rating prime investments

noun

the time when a thing is at its best

a period of power, vigour, etc, usually following youth (esp in the phrase the prime of life)

the beginning of something, such as the spring

maths short for prime number

linguistics a semantically indivisible element; minimal component of the sense of a word

music

unison
the tonic of a scale

mainly RC Church the second of the seven canonical hours of the divine office, originally fixed for the first hour of the day, at sunrise

the first of eight basic positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing

verb

to prepare (something); make ready

(tr) to apply a primer, such as paint or size, to (a surface)

(tr) to fill (a pump) with its working fluid before starting, in order to improve the sealing of the pump elements and to expel air from it before starting

(tr) to increase the quantity of fuel in the float chamber of (a carburettor) in order to facilitate the starting of an engine

(tr) to insert a primer into (a gun, mine, charge, etc) preparatory to detonation or firing

(intr) (of a steam engine or boiler) to operate with or produce steam mixed with large amounts of water

(tr) to provide with facts, information, etc, beforehand; brief

Derived forms of prime

primely, adverb primeness, noun

Word Origin for prime

(adj) C14: from Latin prīmus first; (n) C13: from Latin prīma ( hora) the first (hour); (vb) C16: of uncertain origin, probably connected with n

Idioms and Phrases with non-prime

prime

In addition to the idioms beginning with prime

prime mover
prime of life
prime the pump

also see:

past one's prime

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

prime

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), primed, prim·ing.

verb (used without object), primed, prim·ing.

Origin of prime

SYNONYMS FOR prime

OTHER WORDS FROM prime

Words nearby prime

British Dictionary definitions for non-prime

adjective

noun

verb

Derived forms of prime

Word Origin for prime

Idioms and Phrases with non-prime

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

prime

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), primed, prim·ing.

verb (used without object), primed, prim·ing.

Origin of prime

SYNONYMS FOR prime

OTHER WORDS FROM prime

Words nearby prime

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for non-prime

adjective

noun

verb

Derived forms of prime

Word Origin for prime

Idioms and Phrases with non-prime

British Dictionary definitions for non-prime