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primary definition

pri·mary (prīmer′ē, -mə rē)

adjective

  1. first in time or order of development; primitive; original; earliest
  2. from which others are derived; fundamental; elemental; basic
  3. designating colors regarded as basic, or as those from which all others may be derived: classification of colors as primary varies
  4. of or in the first stage of a sequence; elementary primary school
  5. first in importance; chief; principal; main a primary concern
  6. firsthand; direct a primary source of information
  7. Chem.
    1. characterized by or resulting from the replacement of one atom or radical
    2. characterized by groups or radicals that are attached to the end carbon atom of a chain, i.e., to a CH group (Ex.: primary alcohols, CHOH; primary amines, CHNH)
  8. Elec. designating or of an inducing current, input circuit, or input coil in a transformer, induction coil, etc.
  9. Geol.
    1. formed directly by sedimentation, solidification, or precipitation and not subsequently altered: said of rocks
    2. Obsolete designating or of the earliest geological periods, up through the Paleozoic Era
  10. Linguis. having as its fundamental form a base or other element that cannot be broken down: said of derivation
  11. Med. designating or having to do with the initial medical care given to a patient, before referral to another doctor, a specialist, etc.
  12. Zool. designating or of the large, stiff feathers on the last section, or hand, of a bird's wing

Etymology: ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see prime

noun pl. primaries -·ries

  1. something first in order, quality, importance, etc.
  2. ☆ in the U.S.,
    1. a local meeting of voters of a given political party to nominate candidates for public office, select delegates to a convention, etc.
    2. direct primary election
  3. any of the primary colors
  4. Astron.
    1. a sun, planet, etc. in relation to its satellites
    2. the brighter member of a binary star
  5. Elec. a primary coil
  6. Zool. a primary feather

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
primary Synonyms

primary

modif.

  1. Earliest

    primitive, initial, first; see original 1.

  2. Fundamental

    elemental, basic, central; see fundamental 1.

  3. Principal

    chief, prime, main; see principal.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

primary Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • enter: The Importance of Context A woman entered the Democratic primary for governor of the state of Texas.

Adjective modifier

  • Democratic: The Importance of Context A woman entered the Democratic primary for governor of the state of Texas.

Modifies a noun

  • school: For all ages, from primary school to adult learners.

Modifying Another Word

  • together: This site concentrates on bringing together primary source material relating to the Ancient World in a structured manner.

Noun used with modifier

  • smallthe: Too smallthe primary depend upon where pdf accessed botman to educate employees.

Possessives

  • group: Most part version hand are everywhere to court group's total primary.
primary usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

primary quotes

Jedes geeinzelte Du ist ein Durchblick zu ihm. Durch jedes geeinzelte Du spricht das Grundwort das Ewige an. Every particularThou is a glimpse through to the eternal Thou; by means of every particularThou the primary word addresses the eternal Thou. 164

-Buber, Martin

La cruaute¤  , bien loin d'e"  tre un vice, est le premier sentiment qu'imprime en nous la nature; l'enfant brise son hochet, mord le te¤  ton de sa nourrice, e¤  trangle son oiseau, bien avant que d'avoir l'a"  ge de raison. Far from being a vice, cruelty is the primary feeling that nature imprints in us. The infant breaks its rattle, bites its nurse's nipple, and strangles a bird, well before reaching the age of reason.

-Sade, Donatien Alphonse Fran c° ois, Marquis de

La premie'  re condition pour e¤  crire, c'est une manie'  re de sentir vive et forte. The primary requirement fora writer istofeel keenlyand strongly.

-Stae«  l, Germaine Necker, Baronne de

primary quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"primary." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/primary>

APA Style

primary. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/primary

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