primer

[prim-er or, esp. British, prahy-mer]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR primer ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an elementary book for teaching children to read.

any book of elementary principles: a primer of phonetics.

great primer.

long primer.

RELATED WORDS

book, reader, hornbook, basal

Nearby words

Origin of primer

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin prīmārium, noun use of neuter of prīmārius primary

primer

[prahy-mer]

noun

a person or thing that primes.

a cap, cylinder, etc., containing a compound that may be exploded by percussion or other means, used for firing a charge of powder.

a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc., given to any surface as a base, sealer, or the like.

Origin of primer

1490–1500; prime (v.) + -er¹

prime

[prahym]

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prime ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

prime·ness, 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for primer

Like Edgar, he remembers a unique time when American rappers came down and performed at the Primer Festival de Rap Cubano.
Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar|Daniel Levin|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ahead of ‘Star Trek Into Darkness,’ Sujay Kumar offers a primer on the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.
‘Star Trek’ for Dummies: Get Ready for ‘Into Darkness’ With Our Primer|Sujay Kumar|May 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A primer to the career of the man who just became one of the most important figures in sports.
Meet Jason Collins, the First Gay Athlete in Major American Sports|Kevin Fallon|April 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nine years ago he dazzled audiences with his $7,000 time-travel flick ‘Primer.’
‘Upstream Color,’ Shane Carruth’s Sci-Fi Drama, Is the Year’s Craziest Film (So Far)|Marlow Stern|April 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Below, a primer on what we know about the drone program—and what we still need to find out.
Everything You Need to Know About Drones|Josh Dzieza|February 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He found that the only way he could keep it running well enough to stay in the air was to work the primer pump.
The Biography of a Rabbit|Roy Benson
This book is planned on a method similar to the ‘Primer of Tennyson.’
A Catalogue of Books and Announcements of Methuen and Company, March 1897|Methuen and Company
Yes, sir; it shows just a portion of the primer, and a very small portion of the firing-pin impression.
Warren Commission (3 of 26): Hearings Vol. III (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Now, the primer is made out of a very soft metal that can be dented.
Warren Commission (3 of 26): Hearings Vol. III (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
As a primer is used by a child to acquire by degrees, principles and a spirit.
Sermons Preached at Brighton|Frederick W. Robertson

British Dictionary definitions for primer

primer

noun

an introductory text, such as a school textbook

printing See long primer, great primer

Word Origin for primer

C14: via Anglo-Norman from Medieval Latin primārius (liber) a first (book), from Latin prīmārius primary

noun

a person or thing that primes

a device, such as a tube containing explosive, for detonating the main charge in a gun, mine, etc

a substance, such as paint, applied to a surface as a base, sealer, etc

Also called (for senses 2, 3): priming

Word Origin for primer

C15: see prime (vb)

prime

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 Formsprimely, 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

Word Origin and History for primer

primer

n.1

late 14c., "prayer-book," also "school book" (senses not distinguished in Middle Ages, as reading was taught from prayer books), from Medieval Latin primarius, from Latin primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). The word also might be all or in part from prime (n.) on the same notion as a "Book of Hours." Meaning "small introductory book on any topic" is from 1807.

primer

n.2

"explosive cap," 1819, agent noun from prime (v.).

n.3

"first layer of dye or paint," 1680s, from prime (v.).

prime

adj.

late 14c., "first in order," from Latin primus "first, the first, first part," figuratively "chief, principal; excellent, distinguished, noble" (source also of Italian and Spanish primo), from pre-Italic *prismos, superlative of PIE *preis- "before," from root *per- (1) "beyond, through" (see per).

Meaning "first in importance" is from 1610s in English; that of "first-rate" is from 1620s. Arithmetical sense (e.g. prime number) is from 1560s; prime meridian is from 1878. Prime time originally (c.1500) meant "spring time;" broadcasting sense of "peak tuning-in period" is attested from 1961.

prime

"earliest canonical hour" (6 a.m.), Old English prim, from Medieval Latin prima "the first service," from Latin prima hora "the first hour" (of the Roman day). Meaning "most vigorous stage" first recorded 1530s; specifically "springtime of human life" (often meaning ages roughly 21 to 28) is from 1590s. In classical Latin, noun uses of the adjective meant "first part, beginning; leading place."

prime

"to fill, charge, load" (a weapon), 1510s, probably from prime (adj.). Meaning "to cover with a first coat of paint or dye" is from c.1600. To prime a pump (c.1840) meant to pour water down the tube, which saturated the sucking mechanism and made it draw up water more readily. Related: Primed; priming.

Idioms and Phrases with primer

prime

In addition to the idioms beginning with prime

prime mover
prime of life
prime the pump

also see:

past one's prime

primer

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of primer

primer

noun

Origin of primer

prime

adjective

noun

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

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

Origin of prime

Examples from the Web for primer

primer

noun

Word Origin for primer

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Word Origin for primer

prime

adjective

noun

verb

Word Origin for prime

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