primary
1pri·ma·ry
adj\ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, ˈprī-mə-rē, ˈprīm-rē\
Definition of PRIMARY
1
: first in order of time or development : primitive <the primary stage of civilization> <the primary lesion of a disease>
2
a : of first rank, importance, or value : principal <the primary purpose> b : basic, fundamental <security is a primary need> c : of, relating to, or constituting the principal quills of a bird's wing d : of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products e : expressive of present or future time <primary tense> f : of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists <the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress>
3
a : direct, firsthand <primary sources of information> b : not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes c : preparatory to something else in a continuing process <primary instruction> d : of or relating to a primary school <primary education> e : of or relating to a primary election <a primary candidate> f : belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications <primary nerves> g : directly derived from ores <primary metals> h : of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins <primary protein structure>
4
: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule <a primary amine>; especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
5
: of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem <primary tissue> <primary growth>
6
: of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants <primary productivity>
7
: providing primary care <a primary physician>
See Examples of PRIMARY
- The economy was the primary focus of the debate.
- The family is the primary social unit of human life.
- The primary function of our schools is to educate our young people.
- We just started our primary flight training.
- The book is based mainly on primary sources rather than secondary sources.
Origin of PRIMARY
Middle English, from Late Latin primarius basic, primary, from Latin, principal, from primus
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to PRIMARY
Synonyms: arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, foremost, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
Related Words: distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
Near Antonyms: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary
Rhymes with PRIMARY
baneberry, barberry, bayberry, bearberry, bilberry, blackberry, black cherry, blaeberry, blueberry, Bradbury, bunchberry, Burberry, canary, chokeberry, chokecherry, cloudberry, contrary, costmary, cowberry, cranberry, crowberry, deerberry, equerry, gooseberry, ground-cherry, hackberry, Hail Mary, inkberry, Juneberry, knobkerrie, library, mulberry, nondairy, pokeberry, raspberry, rosemary, scalare, shadberry, snowberry, soapberry, strawberry, summary, sweet cherry, teaberry, tilbury, tooth fairy, twinberry, unwary, vagary, wheat berry, wolfberry, youngberry
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