prime

[ prahym ]

/ praɪm /

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See synonyms for: prime / primed / primer / primest on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR prime

1 primary.

See synonyms for prime on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of prime

First recorded before 1000; 1910–15 for def. 5; (adjective) Middle English (from Old French prim), from Latin prīmusfirst (superlative corresponding to priorprior¹); (noun) in part derivative of the adjective; in part continuing Middle English prim(e) “first canonical hour,” Old English prim, from Latin prīma (hōra) “first (hour)”; (verb) apparently derivative of the adjective

synonym study for prime

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

primeness, nounnon·prime, adjectivere·prime, verb (used with object), re·primed, re·prim·ing.self-primed, adjective

un·primed, adjectivewell-primed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prime in a sentence

Abe may soon be gone, then, but his impact on Japan — and the world — is primed to be felt for years to come.
Abe Shinzo, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, steps down over health concerns|Alex Ward|August 28, 2020|Vox
These posts can, however, attract a lot of backlinks in their prime.
How to teach an old blog new SEO tricks|Tom Pick|August 27, 2020|Search Engine Watch
In 1996, one year before Britain’s handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China, prime minister John Major made a promise to the colony.
The campaign for Hong Kong’s freedoms has a new base: Britain|Annabelle Timsit|August 16, 2020|Quartz
Van Doorninck’s prime responsibilities are urban development and sustainability.
Is Economic Growth the Wrong Goal? (Ep. 429)|Stephen J. Dubner|August 13, 2020|Freakonomics

One aspect that remains the prime focus for every local business is the significance of Google My Business.
Guide: How to structure a local SEO strategy for your business|Christian Carere|August 6, 2020|Search Engine Watch
By the time Gurira took her place at the Google podium to read from the play, the audience was primed for emotion.
Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira Vs. Boko Haram|Kristi York Wooten|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a result, Tisei almost beat Tierney in the Democratic year of 2012 and was primed to win a rematch.
The 8 Most Competitive Congressional Races of 2014|Ben Jacobs|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That means that your body is primed to breakdown molecules for energy.
Does Fasted Cardio Really Burn More Fat?|DailyBurn|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Few series, then, are as primed for in-depth dissections of its most pivotal scenes.
Inside Orange Is the New Black’s Terrifying Showdown Between Red and Vee|Kevin Fallon|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It premiered on a fall TV slate that was overly primed for think pieces and dissection.
Why Whitney Cummings’ Dick Jokes Are Important|Kevin Fallon|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I can make Times Square at five oclock, a bunch of the boys are primed up for a big story.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson
Sometimes whole companies entered mines by mistake at the very moment that they were primed for explosion.
The Cornet of Horse|G. A. Henty
Boyhood's zenith had been attained: Michael's imagination was primed for strange emotions.
Sinister Street, vol. 1|Compton Mackenzie
When Paul gave the signal he would be primed for his part in the proceedings.
The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour|George A. Warren
Dropping behind this they awaited the Indians with freshly primed rifles and pistols.
The Way of an Indian|Frederic Remington

British Dictionary definitions for 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 ratingprime 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, adverbprimeness, 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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with prime

prime

In addition to the idioms beginning with prime

prime mover
prime of life
prime the pump

also see:

past one's prime

prime

OTHER WORDS FOR prime

Origin of prime

synonym study for prime

OTHER WORDS FROM prime

Words related to prime

How to use prime in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prime

Derived forms of prime

Word Origin for prime

Other Idioms and Phrases with prime