Prime Definition
prīm
primed, primes, priming, primest
adjective
primest
First in importance or value; principal; main.
A prime advantage.
Webster's New World
First in rank or authority; chief.
The prime minister.
Webster's New World
First in time; original; primitive; primary.
Webster's New World
Being the most desired or suitable example of something.
A prime candidate for the study.
American Heritage
First in quality; of the highest excellence.
Prime beef.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
noun
primes
The period of best performance or peak activity.
This car is definitely past its prime.
American Heritage
The earliest part of something; beginning.
Webster's New World
A part of the Divine Office orig. assigned to the first hour of daylight (in the Liturgy of the Hours, both Lauds and Prime have been replaced by Morning Prayer)
Webster's New World
The prime rate.
American Heritage
Springtime.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
primed, primes, priming
To make ready; prepare.
A team primed for a game.
Webster's New World
To prime a person or thing.
Webster's New World
To let a spray of water mix with the steam forced into the cylinder, as of a steam engine.
Webster's New World
To prepare (a gun) for firing or (a charge) for exploding by providing with priming or a primer.
Webster's New World
To get (a pump) into operation by pouring in water until the suction is established.
Webster's New World
idiom
prime the pump
- To encourage the growth or action of something.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Prime
Noun
Singular:
prime
Plural:
primesAdjective
Base Form:
prime
Superlative:
primestIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Prime
Origin of Prime
-
Middle English first in occurrence from Old French feminine of prin from Latin prīmus per1 in Indo-European roots Noun, sense 5, from Middle English from Old English prīm from Late Latin prīma (hōra) first (hour) from Latin feminine of prīmus
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Old French prime, from Latin primus (“first"), from Old Latin pri (“before"), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“beyond, before").
From Wiktionary
-
Origin uncertain; perhaps related to primage.
From Wiktionary
Related Articles
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to prime using the buttons below.