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first off

 - 5 dictionary results

first

  [furst]
Use first off in a Sentence
–adjective
1. being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc., used as the ordinal number of one: the first edition; the first vice president.
2. Music. highest or chief among several voices or instruments of the same class: first alto; first horn.
3. Automotive. low (def. 31).
4. (often initial capital letter) being a member of the household or an intimate acquaintance of the president of the U.S. or of the governor of a state: the First Lady; Checkers, the first dog.
–adverb
5. before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc.
6. before some other thing, event, etc.: If you're going, phone first.
7. for the first time: She first visited Atlanta in 1980.
8. in preference to something else; rather; sooner: I'd die first.
9. in the first place; firstly.
–noun
10. the person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, etc.
11. the beginning.
12. the first part; first member of a series.
13. Music.
a. the voice or instrument that takes the highest or chief part in its class, esp. in an orchestra or chorus.
b. a leader of a part or group of performers.
14. Automotive. low gear; first gear: She shifted into first and drove off.
15. the winning position or rank in a race or other competition.
16. Baseball. first base.
17. Usually, firsts. Commerce.
a. a product or goods of the first or highest quality.
b. goods produced according to specifications, without visible flaws. Compare second 1 (def. 23), third (def. 12).
18. British University.
a. first-class honors. Compare class (def. 18).
b. a person who has won such honors.
—Idioms
19. first and last, everything considered; above all else; altogether: First and last, it is important to know oneself.
20. first off, Informal. at the outset; immediately: He wanted to know first off why he hadn't been notified.
21. first thing, before anything else; at once; promptly: I'll call you first thing when I arrive.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE fyr(e)st (see fore 1 , -est ); c. G Fürst prince

Related forms:
firstness, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To first off
first   (fûrst)   
n.  

  1. The ordinal number matching the number one in a series.

  2. The one coming, occurring, or ranking before or above all others.

  3. The beginning; the outset: from the first; at first.

  4. Music The voice or instrument highest in pitch or carrying the principal part.

  5. The transmission gear or corresponding gear ratio used to produce the range of lowest drive speeds in a motor vehicle.

  6. The winning position in a contest: finished the season in first.

  7. Baseball

    1. First base.

    2. A first baseman.

adj.  

  1. Corresponding in order to the number one.

  2. Coming before all others in order or location: the first house on your left.

  3. Occurring or acting before all others in time; earliest: the first day of spring.

  4. Ranking above all others, as in importance or quality; foremost: was first in the class.

  5. Music Being highest in pitch or carrying the principal part: first trumpet.

  6. Of, relating to, or being the transmission gear or corresponding gear ratio used to produce the range of lowest drive speeds in a motor vehicle.

  7. Of, related to, or being a member of the U.S. president's household: first daughter Amy Carter.

adv.  

  1. Before or above all others in time, order, rank, or importance: arrived first; forgot to light the oven first.

  2. For the first time.

  3. Rather; preferably: would die first.

  4. In the first place; to begin with. See Usage Note at firstly.


[Middle English, from Old English fyrst; see per1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

first 
O.E. fyrst "foremost," superl. of fore, from P.Gmc. *furisto (cf. O.H.G. furist, O.N. fyrstr, Dan. første, O.Fris. fersta, M.Du. vorste "first," Ger. Fürst "prince"), superl. of *fur-/*for-, from PIE *pro- (cf. Skt. pura "before, formerly," Eng. fore). First-class (1858) "is from the universities via the railways" [Weekley]; first-rate (1666) is from classes of warships in the British navy. First aid is that given at the scene, pending the arrival of a doctor; firsthand is attested from 1732. First lady "wife of a U.S. president" seems to have been first used in 1948.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

first (fûrst)
adj.

  1. Coming before all others in order or location.

  2. Occurring or acting before all others in time; earliest.

  3. Being the innermost digit, especially on a foot.

first n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

first off

From the start, immediately. For example, He said to wash the car first off, or Why wasn't she told first off? [Colloquial; late 1800s] Also see under first and foremost; first thing.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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