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Definition of priming - 5 dictionary results
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prim⋅ing

  [prahy-ming]
Use priming in a Sentence
–noun
1. the powder or other material used to ignite a charge.
2. the act of a person or thing that primes.
3. material used as a primer, or a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc.
Origin:
1590–1600; prime + -ing 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 priming
prime   (prīm)   
adj.  
  1. First in excellence, quality, or value. See Usage Note at perfect.
  2. First in degree or rank; chief. See Synonyms at chief.
  3. First or early in time, order, or sequence; original.
  4. Of the highest U.S. government grade of meat.
  5. Mathematics Of, relating to, or being a prime number.
n.  
  1. The earliest hours of the day; dawn.
  2. The first season of the year; spring.
  3. The age of ideal physical perfection and intellectual vigor.
  4. The period or phase of ideal or peak condition. See Synonyms at bloom1.
  5. The first position of thrust and parry in fencing.
  6. A mark (') appended above and to the right of a character, especially:
    1. One used to distinguish different values of the same variable in a mathematical expression.
    2. One used to represent a unit of measurement, such as feet or minutes in latitude and longitude.
    3. The second of the seven canonical hours. No longer in liturgical use.
    4. The time appointed for this service, the first hour of the day or 6 A.M.
  7. also Prime Ecclesiastical
    1. The second of the seven canonical hours. No longer in liturgical use.
    2. The time appointed for this service, the first hour of the day or 6 A.M.
  8. Mathematics A prime number.
  9. A prime rate.
  10. See primitive.
v.   primed, prim·ing, primes

v.   tr.
  1. To make ready; prepare: guard dogs primed for attack.
  2. To prepare (a gun or mine) for firing by inserting a charge of gunpowder or a primer.
  3. To prepare for operation, as by pouring water into a pump or gasoline into a carburetor.
  4. To prepare (a surface) for painting by covering with size, primer, or an undercoat.
  5. To inform or instruct beforehand; coach.
v.   intr.
To become prepared for future action or operation.

[Middle English, first in occurrence, from Old French, feminine of prin, from Latin prīmus; see per1 in Indo-European roots. N., sense 7, from Middle English, from Old English prīm, from Late Latin prīma (hōra), first (hour), from Latin, feminine of prīmus.]
prime'ly adv., prime'ness n.
prim·ing   (prī'mĭng)   
n.  
  1. The act of one that primes.
  2. The explosive used to ignite a charge.
  3. A preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface.
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

Priming

Prim"ing\, n. 1. The powder or other combustible used to communicate fire to a charge of gunpowder, as in a firearm.

2. (Paint.) The first coating of color, size, or the like, laid on canvas, or on a building, or other surface.

3. (Steam Eng.) The carrying over of water, with the steam, from the boiler, as into the cylinder.

Priming of the tide. See Lag of the tide, under 2d Lag.

Priming tube, a small pipe, filled with a combustible composition for firing cannon.

Priming valve (Steam Eng.), a spring safety valve applied to the cylinder of a steam engine for discharging water carried into the cylinder by priming.

Priming wire, a pointed wire used to penetrate the vent of a piece, for piercing the cartridge before priming.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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