prime

The definition of prime is someone or something first in time, importance, quality or rank.

(adjective)

An example of an adjective using prime is prime time, a television show on at 8pm.
An example of an adjective using prime is prime seating, front row center seats at a concert.
An example of an adjective using prime is prime aging, the best cut of beef.

See prime in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

first in time; original; primitive; primary
first in rank or authority; chief: the prime minister
first in importance or value; principal; main: a prime advantage
first in quality; of the highest excellence: prime beef
from which others are derived; fundamental; basic
Math.
1. of or being a prime number
2. having no factor in common except 1: 9 and 16 are prime to each other

Origin: ME < MFr < L primus, first < OL pri, before < IE base *per-, beyond > far, first

noun

1. R.C.Ch. 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 assigned to the first hour of daylight (in the Liturgy of the Hours, both Lauds and Prime have been replaced by Morning Prayer)
2. the first hour of the daylight, conventionally taken to begin about 6 a.m.
3. the earliest part of something; beginning
1. springtime
2. the springtime of life; youth
1. the best, most vigorous, or most fully mature period or stage of a person or thing: a soprano in her prime
2. the best part of anything
3. the best of several or many; pick; cream
a symbol () used
1. to distinguish between different values of the same variable
2. to distinguish a letter, number, or other character from another of the same kind, as A
3. for certain units of measure, as feet or minutes of arc
Math. prime number
Music unison

Origin: ME < OE prim < L prima (hora), first (hour): see primethe

transitive verb primed, priming

to make ready; prepare: a team primed for a game
to prepare (a gun) for firing or (a charge) for exploding by providing with priming or a primer
1. to get (a pump) into operation by pouring in water until the suction is established
2. to get (a carburetor, etc.) into operation by adding extra fuel
to undercoat, size, etc. (a surface) in preparation as for painting
to provide (a person) beforehand with information, answers, etc.

intransitive verb

to prime a person or thing
to let a spray of water mix with the steam forced into the cylinder, as of a steam engine

Related Forms:

See prime in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

noun

The earliest hours of the day; dawn.
The first season of the year; spring.
The age of ideal physical perfection and intellectual vigor.
The period or phase of ideal or peak condition. See Synonyms at bloom¹.
The first position of thrust and parry in fencing.
A mark (:) appended above and to the right of a character, especially:
a. One used to distinguish different values of the same variable in a mathematical expression.
b. One used to represent a unit of measurement, such as feet or minutes in latitude and longitude.
also Prime Ecclesiastical
a. The second of the seven canonical hours. No longer in liturgical use.
b. The time appointed for this service, the first hour of the day or 6 A.M.
Mathematics A prime number.
A prime rate.
See primitive.

verb primed primed, prim·ing, primes

verb, transitive

To make ready; prepare: guard dogs primed for attack.
To prepare (a gun or mine) for firing by inserting a charge of gunpowder or a primer.
To prepare for operation, as by pouring water into a pump or gasoline into a carburetor.
To prepare (a surface) for painting by covering with size, primer, or an undercoat.
To inform or instruct beforehand; coach.

verb, intransitive

To become prepared for future action or operation.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, first in occurrence

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , feminine of prin

Origin: , from Latin prīmus; see per¹ in Indo-European roots

Origin: . N., sense 7, from Middle English

Origin: , from Old English prīm

Origin: , from Late Latin prīma (hōra), first (hour)

Origin: , from Latin

Origin: , feminine of prīmus