prime
Pronunciation: (prīm), [key]
— adj., n., v., primed, prim•ing.
—adj.
- of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration: a prime requisite.
- of the greatest relevance or significance: a prime example.
- of the highest eminence or rank: the prime authority on Chaucer.
- of the greatest commercial value: prime building lots.
- first-rate: This ale is prime!
- (of meat, esp. of beef&hasp;) noting or pertaining to the first grade or best quality: prime ribs of beef.
- first in order of time, existence, or development; earliest; primitive.
- basic; fundamental: the prime axioms of his philosophy.
- (of any two or more numbers) having no common divisor except unity: The number 2 is prime to 9.
—n.
- the most flourishing stage or state.
- the time of early manhood or womanhood: the prime of youth.
- the period or state of greatest perfection or vigor of human life: a man in his prime.
- the choicest or best part of anything.
- (esp. in the grading of U.S. beef&hasp;) a grade, classification, or designation indicating the highest or most desirable quality.
- the beginning or earliest stage of any period.
- the spring of the year.
- the first hour or period of the day, after sunrise.
- See
- the second of the seven canonical hours or the service for it, originally fixed for the first hour of the day.
- a, a&minsym;.
- Seeprime number.
- one of the equal parts into which a unit is primarily divided.
- the mark (&minsym;) indicating such a division:a, a&minsym;.
- the first of eight defensive positions.
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- unison (def. 2).
- (in a scale) the tonic or keynote.
- any basic, indivisible unit used in linguistic analysis.
- a piece of tin plate free from visible defects.
—v.t.
- to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose or operation.
- to supply (a firearm) with powder for communicating fire to a charge.
- to lay a train of powder to (a charge, mine, etc.).
- to pour or admit liquid into (a pump) to expel air and prepare for action.
- to put fuel into (a carburetor) before starting an engine, in order to insure a sufficiently rich mixture at the start.
- to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat or color, as in painting.
- to supply or equip with information, words, etc., for use: The politician was primed by his aides for the press conference.
- to harvest the bottom leaves from (a tobacco plant).
—v.i.
- (of a boiler) to deliver or discharge steam containing an excessive amount of water.
- to harvest the bottom leaves from a tobacco plant.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.