primer definition | Dictionary.com

prim⋅er

1 [prim-er or, especially Brit., prahy-mer]

–noun

1.	an elementary book for teaching children to read.

2.	any book of elementary principles: a primer of phonetics.

3.	great primer.

4.	long primer.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML prīmārium, n. use of neut. of prīmārius primary

prim⋅er

2 [prahy-mer]

–noun

1.	a person or thing that primes.

2.	a cap, cylinder, etc., containing a compound that may be exploded by percussion or other means, used for firing a charge of powder.

3.	a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc., given to any surface as a base, sealer, or the like.

Origin:
1490–1500; prime (v.) + -er ¹

prime

[prahym]

adjective, noun, verb, primed, prim⋅ing.

–adjective

1.	of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration: a prime requisite.

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, esp. 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

10.	the most flourishing stage or state.

11.	the time of early manhood or womanhood: the prime of youth.

12.	the period or state of greatest perfection or vigor of human life: a man in his prime.

13.	the choicest or best part of anything.

14.	(esp. in the grading of U.S. beef) a grade, classification, or designation indicating the highest or most desirable quality.

15.	the beginning or earliest stage of any period.

16.	the spring of the year.

17.	the first hour or period of the day, after sunrise.

18.	Banking. prime rate.

19.	Ecclesiastical. the second of the seven canonical hours or the service for it, originally fixed for the first hour of the day.

20.

Mathematics.

a.	prime number.

b.	one of the equal parts into which a unit is primarily divided.

c.	the mark (′) indicating such a division: a, a′.

21.	Fencing. the first of eight defensive positions.

22.

Music.

a.	unison (def. 2).

b.	(in a scale) the tonic or keynote.

23.	Linguistics. any basic, indivisible unit used in linguistic analysis.

24.	Metallurgy. a piece of tin plate free from visible defects.

–verb (used with object)

25.	to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose or operation.

26.	to supply (a firearm) with powder for communicating fire to a charge.

27.	to lay a train of powder to (a charge, mine, etc.).

28.	to pour or admit liquid into (a pump) to expel air and prepare for action.

29.	to put fuel into (a carburetor) before starting an engine, in order to insure a sufficiently rich mixture at the start.

30.	to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat or color, as in painting.

31.	to supply or equip with information, words, etc., for use: The politician was primed by his aides for the press conference.

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

–verb (used without object)

33.	(of a boiler) to deliver or discharge steam containing an excessive amount of water.

34.	to harvest the bottom leaves from a tobacco plant.

Origin:
bef. 1000; 1910–15 for def. 5; (adj.) ME (< OF prim) < L prīmus first (superl. corresponding to prior prior ¹ ); (n.) in part deriv. of the adj.; in part continuing ME prim(e) first canonical hour, OE prim < L prīma (hōra) first (hour); (v.) appar. deriv. of the adj.

Related forms:

primeness, noun

Synonyms:
1. primary. 7. 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To primer

prim·er¹ (prĭm'ər)

An elementary textbook for teaching children to read.
A book that covers the basic elements of a subject.

[Middle English, devotional manual, from Norman French, from Medieval Latin prīmārium, from neuter of prīmārius, first, from Latin, from prīmus; see prime.]

prim·er² (prī'mər)

A cap or tube containing a small amount of explosive used to detonate the main explosive charge of a firearm or mine.
An undercoat of paint or size applied to prepare a surface, as for painting.
Genetics A segment of DNA or RNA that is complementary to a given DNA sequence and that is needed to initiate replication by DNA polymerase.

Primer

Prim"er\, n. One who, or that which, primes; specifically, an instrument or device for priming; esp., a cap, tube, or water containing percussion powder or other compound for igniting a charge of gunpowder.

Primer

Prim"er\, a. [OF. primer, primier, premier, F. premier. See Premier.] First; original; primary. [Obs.] "The primer English kings." --Drayton.

Primer fine (O. Eng. Law), a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine. --Blackstone.

Primer seizin (Feudal Law), the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight's fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year's profits of the land if in possession, and half a year's profits if the land was in reversion expectant on an estate for life; -- now abolished. --Blackstone.

Primer

Prim"er\, n. [Originally, the book read at prime, the first canonical hour. LL. primae liber. See Prime, n., 4.]

1. Originally, a small prayer book for church service, containing the little office of the Virgin Mary; also, a work of elementary religious instruction.

The primer, or office of the Blessed Virgin. --Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. A small elementary book for teaching children to read; a reading or spelling book for a beginner.

As he sat in the school at his prymer. --Chaucer.

3. (Print.) A kind of type, of which there are two species; one, called long primer, intermediate in size between bourgeois and small pica [see Long primer]; the other, called great primer, larger than pica.

Note: Great primer type.

Language Translation for : primer

Spanish: texto elemental,

German: der Leitfaden,

Japanese: 入門書

More Translations »

primer

c.1386, "prayer-book," also "school book" (senses not distinguished in Middle Ages, as reading was taught from prayer books), from M.L. primarius, from L. primus "first" (see prime (adj.)). The exact sense is uncertain, and the word may be from prime (n.) on the same notion as a "Book of Hours." Meaning "small introductory book on any topic" is from 1807.

Main Entry: prim·er
Pronunciation: 'prI-m&r
Function: noun
: a molecule (as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formationof another molecule (as a longer chain of DNA)

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