priming

[ prahy-ming ]

/ ˈpraɪ mɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR priming ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the powder or other material used to ignite a charge.

the act of a person or thing that primes.

material used as a primer, or a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc.

Nearby words

primero, primers, primeval, primigravida, primine, priming, primipara, primitive, primitive baptist, primitive cell, primitive church

Origin of priming

First recorded in 1590–1600; prime + -ing¹

Related forms

self-prim·ing, adjective

Definition for priming (2 of 2)

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.

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 priming

When fathers hold and play with their children, oxytocin and prolactin kick in, priming them for bonding.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And, of course, there was the infamous statement that Ben Bernanke would be committing “treason” by priming the economy.
Perry: King of the Know-Nothings|Michael Tomasky|August 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Blankets had been rolled up and strapped, haversacks and bags properly repacked, a last look taken to flints and priming.
In the Valley|Harold Frederic
We had also to look to the priming of our rifles, as they were likely to have got damp, and might fail us at a pinch.
In the Rocky Mountains|W. H. G. Kingston

Graining out of surfaces often results from priming a surface too soon as well as too late.
Practical Carriage and Wagon Painting|Mayton Clarence Hillick
Thinking thus, he unslung his gun, and examined carefully the priming, holding himself in readiness for any emergency.
The Knight of the Golden Melice|John Turvill Adams
When priming occurs at starting, the discharge-cocks of the cylinders should be opened to remove the water.
Practical Rules for the Management of a Locomotive Engine|Charles Hutton Gregory

British Dictionary definitions for priming (1 of 2)

priming

/ (ˈpraɪmɪŋ) /

noun

something used to prime

a substance, used to ignite an explosive charge

British Dictionary definitions for priming (2 of 2)

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with priming

prime

In addition to the idioms beginning with prime

prime mover
prime of life
prime the pump

also see:

past one's prime