prime

[ prahym ]

adjective

1. of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration:

   a prime requisite.

   Synonyms: primary

2. of the greatest relevance or significance:

   a prime example.

3. of the highest eminence or rank:

   the prime authority on Chaucer.

4. of the greatest commercial value:

   prime building lots.

5. first-rate:

   This ale is prime!

6. (of meat, especially of beef ) noting or pertaining to the first grade or best quality:

   prime ribs of beef.

7. first in order of time, existence, or development; earliest; primitive.
8. basic; fundamental:

   the prime axioms of his philosophy.

9. Mathematics. (of any two or more numbers) having no common divisor except unity:

   The number 2 is prime to 9.

noun

1. the most flourishing stage or state.
2. the time of early manhood or womanhood:

   the prime of youth.

3. the period or state of greatest perfection or vigor of human life:

   a man in his prime.

4. the choicest or best part of anything.
5. (especially in the grading of U.S. beef ) a grade, classification, or designation indicating the highest or most desirable quality.
6. the beginning or earliest stage of any period.
7. the spring of the year.
8. the first hour or period of the day, after sunrise.
9. Banking. prime rate.
10. Ecclesiastical. the second of the seven canonical hours or the service for it, originally fixed for the first hour of the day.
11. Mathematics.
    1. prime number.
    2. one of the equal parts into which a unit is primarily divided.
    3. the mark (′) indicating such a division:

       a, a′.

12. Fencing. the first of eight defensive positions.
13. Music.
    1. unison ( def 2 ).
    2. (in a scale) the tonic or keynote.
14. Linguistics. any basic, indivisible unit used in linguistic analysis.
15. Metallurgy. a piece of tin plate free from visible defects.

verb (used with object)

primed, priming.

1. to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose or operation.
2. to supply (a firearm) with powder for communicating fire to a charge.
3. to lay a train of powder to (a charge, mine, etc.).
4. to pour or admit liquid into (a pump) to expel air and prepare for action.
5. to put fuel into (a carburetor) before starting an engine, in order to insure a sufficiently rich mixture at the start.
6. to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat or color, as in painting.
7. to supply or equip with information, words, etc., for use:

   The politician was primed by his aides for the press conference.

8. to harvest the bottom leaves from (a tobacco plant).

verb (used without object)

primed, priming.

1. (of a boiler) to deliver or discharge steam containing an excessive amount of water.
2. to harvest the bottom leaves from a tobacco plant.

prime

/ praɪm /

adjective

1. prenominal first in quality or value; first-rate
2. prenominal fundamental; original
3. prenominal first in importance, authority, etc; chief
4. maths
   1. having no factors except itself or one

      x² + x + 3 is a prime polynomial

   2. foll by to having no common factors (with)

      20 is prime to 21

5. finance having the best credit rating

   prime investments

noun

1. the time when a thing is at its best
2. a period of power, vigour, etc, usually following youth (esp in the phrase the prime of life )
3. the beginning of something, such as the spring
4. maths short for prime number
5. linguistics a semantically indivisible element; minimal component of the sense of a word
6. music
   1. unison
   2. the tonic of a scale
7. RC Church the second of the seven canonical hours of the divine office, originally fixed for the first hour of the day, at sunrise
8. the first of eight basic positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing

verb

1. to prepare (something); make ready
2. tr to apply a primer, such as paint or size, to (a surface)
3. 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
4. tr to increase the quantity of fuel in the float chamber of (a carburettor) in order to facilitate the starting of an engine
5. tr to insert a primer into (a gun, mine, charge, etc) preparatory to detonation or firing
6. intr (of a steam engine or boiler) to operate with or produce steam mixed with large amounts of water
7. tr to provide with facts, information, etc, beforehand; brief

Derived Forms

• ˈprimely, adverb
• ˈprimeness, noun

Other Words From

• primeness noun
• non·prime adjective
• re·prime verb (used with object) reprimed repriming
• self-primed adjective
• un·primed adjective
• well-primed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prime¹

First recorded before 1000; 1910–15 prime fordef 5; (adjective) Middle English (from Old French prim ), from Latin prīmus first (superlative corresponding to prior prior ¹ ); (noun) in part derivative of the adjective; in part continuing Middle English prim(e) “first canonical hour,” Old English prim, from Latin prīma (hōra) “first (hour)”; (verb) apparently derivative of the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prime¹

(adj) C14: from Latin prīmus first; (n) C13: from Latin prīma ( hora ) the first (hour); (vb) C16: of uncertain origin, probably connected with n

Idioms and Phrases

• past one's prime

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

The conditions late Monday were primed for an explosive wildfire.

From Los Angeles Times

The prime minister of Syria's new transitional government has said it is time for people to "enjoy stability and calm" after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

From BBC

The post appeared to reference Trump's recent meeting with Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago, where he was said to joke with the prime minister about Canada joining the U.S. and becoming the 51st state.

From Salon

"But I am also a prime minister… I am leading the country through a seven-front war, and I think the two can be done in parallel."

From BBC

Legal experts and politicians point out that there is no legal basis for either the party leader or the prime minister — neither of whom is a publicly elected official — to take over the president’s job.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• heyday

More About Prime

What is a basic definition of prime?

The word prime is used in mathematics to refer to a prime number, a number that can only be divided by itself or the number 1 to equal a whole number. The word prime can be used to describe something as the most important or most relevant among other similar things, like a prime example or a prime suspect. The word prime has many other senses as an adjective, noun, and verb.

A number is considered to be a prime number if it can only be divided by itself and 1 to get a whole number, meaning there is no fractional or decimal remainder.

• Real-life example: The number 7 is a prime number. It can be divided by itself to equal 1 or by 1 to equal 7. Dividing 7 by any other number will not result in a whole number. For example, 7 divided by 2 is 3.5 (3 ½). Numbers that aren’t prime are called composite numbers. The number 6, for example, is a composite number because it can be divided by 3 to equal 2, which is a whole number. The numbers 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 17 are examples of prime numbers.
• Used in a sentence: The number 51 is not a prime number because it can be divided by 3 to get 17.

The word prime is also used as an adjective to describe something as the most important among other things. The adjectives primary and chief are close synonyms.

• Real-life example: If a high school student’s grades are the prime factor that a college considers when reviewing their application, this means it is the most important thing being considered. Your mom might say that you lying to her is the prime reason she is grounding you. This means that the lie was the most important reason and the fact that you didn’t clean your room or walk the dog are less important reasons.
• Used in a sentence: Studying before taking tests is the prime factor that will determine if you pass or fail a class.

The word prime is also used as an adjective to describe something as the most relevant or significant.

• Real-life example: Your teacher might say that Bill Gates is a prime example of how learning about computers can lead to success in life, meaning he is the best example.
• Used in a sentence: The fact that my sister gave me $100 with no questions asked is a prime example of her generosity.

Where does prime come from?

The first records of the word prime come from before 1000. It ultimately comes from the Latin prīmus, meaning “first.” The noun use of prime came first from the Latin prīma hora, meaning “the first hour.”

Things that are described as prime are often first in importance and first in significance among other similar things.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to prime?

• primeness (noun)
• primely (adverb)
• nonprime (adjective)
• self-primed (adjective)

What are some synonyms for prime?

• primary
• principal
• chief

What are some words that share a root or word element with prime? 

• primary
• primeval
• premier
• prime minister
• prime time

What are some words that often get used in discussing prime?

 

• number
• prominent
• major
• important
• significant
• authority

How is prime used in real life?

Prime is an extremely common word with many meanings. It is often used to mean “first” or “top.”

Being 23 keeps me at peace because it’s a prime number. I’m terrified to turn 24 it’s too divisible

— jillian (@Jillianhalmos) November 16, 2020

Technology is the prime reason our schemes have transcended files and changed lives of the people at such a speed and scale: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 19, 2020

RIP Alex Trebek.

The prime example of consistency and decency.

— Pomp 🌪 (@APompliano) November 8, 2020

 

 

Try using prime!

Is the number 24 a prime number?