primary

primary
pri•ma•ry
[[t]ˈpraɪ mɛr i, -mə ri[/t]] adj. n. pl. -ries
1) first in rank or importance; chief:
one's primary goal in life[/ex]
2) first in order in any series, sequence, etc
3) first in time; earliest
4) of or pertaining to primary school:
the primary grades[/ex]
5) being of the simplest or most basic order of its or their kind:
a primary constituent; a primary classification[/ex]
6) immediate or direct; not involving intermediate agency:
primary perceptions[/ex]
7) orn pertaining to any of the set of flight feathers situated on the outermost segment of a bird's wing
8) elm noting or pertaining to the circuit, coil, winding, or current that induces electric current in secondary windings in an induction coil, transformer, or the like
9) chem. Chem.
a) involving or obtained by replacement of one atom or group
b) noting or containing a carbon atom united to no other or to only one other carbon atom in a molecule
10) gram. Gram.
a) (of a derivative) having a root or other unanalyzable element as the underlying form
b) (of Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit tenses) having reference to present or future time
Compare secondary 7), b)
11) something that is first in order or importance
12) gov
a) a preliminary election in which voters of each political party nominate candidates for office, party officers, etc
b) a local meeting of party members to select candidates or delegates; caucus
13) opt
primary color
14) orn a primary feather
15) astron.
a) a body in relation to a smaller body or smaller bodies revolving around it, as a planet in relation to its satellites
b) the brighter of the two stars comprising a double star
Compare companion I, 7)
•
Etymology: 1425–75; late ME < L prīmārius of the first rank. See prime, -ary pri′ma•ri•ness, n.

From formal English to slang. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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  • Primary — Pri ma*ry, a. [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See {Prime}, a., and cf. {Premier}, {Primero}.] 1. First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original. [1913 Webster] The church of Christ, in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primary — pri·ma·ry 1 / prī ˌmer ē, mə rē/ adj 1: of first rank, value, or importance 2: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications pri·mar·i·ly /prī mer ə lē/ adv primary 2 n pl …   Law dictionary

  • primary — primary, primal, primordial, primitive, pristine, primeval, prime mean first in some respect (as order, character, or importance). Something primary comes first in the order of development or of progression. Sometimes the term means little more… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Primary — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Primary» Sencillo de The Cure del álbum Faith Publicación 17 de marzo de 1981 (Reino Unido) Formato …   Wikipedia Español

  • primary — pri‧ma‧ry [ˈpraɪmri ǁ meri] adjective 1. main or most important: • Its primary business is developing and marketing new software. • The primary problem for the airlines is the recession. • It uses coal as its primary source of fuel. 2 …   Financial and business terms

  • primary — [prī′mer΄ē, prī′mə rē] adj. [ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see PRIME] 1. first in time or order of development; primitive; original; earliest 2. from which others are derived; fundamental; elemental; basic 3. designating colors… …   English World dictionary

  • Primary — Single par The Cure extrait de l’album Faith Face A Primary Face B Descent Sortie 17 mars 1981 Enregistrement …   Wikipédia en Français

  • primary — late 15c., of the first order, from L. primarius of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent, from primus first (see PRIME (Cf. prime) (adj.) ). Primary color is first recorded 1610s; primary school is 1802, from Fr. école primaire. The Paris… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Primary — Pri ma*ry, n.; pl. {Primaries}. 1. That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter. [1913 Webster] 2. A primary meeting; a caucus. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zo[ o]l.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird s wing.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primary — / prime [adj1] best, principal capital, cardinal, chief, crackerjack*, dominant, excellent, fab*, first, first class*, greatest, heavy, highest, hot*, leading, main, number one*, paramount, primo*, state of the art*, stellar, top, top of the… …   New thesaurus

  • primary — primary/secondary qualities …   Philosophy dictionary

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