Etymology : Middle English, from Old English prIm, from Latin prima hora first hour
Pronunciation : prIm
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. state of perfection; state of highest quality; state of prosperity; springtime; childhood; dawn, sunrise; prime number, number that is not divisible by any number except itself and 1 (Mathematics). prepare for use, make ready; load, fill; carry out a preliminary and/or preparatory act. principal, major, chief; central, main; select, choice, of the highest quality; initial, first; excellent, superior. prime\prime\, a. (math.) (a) divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number. (b) having no common factor; -- used with to; as, 12 is prime to 25.prime \prime\ , n.
2. the first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring. in the very prime of the world. hope waits upon the flowery prime.
3. the spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection. "cut off in their prime." --eustace. "the prime of youth.".
4. that which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part. give him always of the prime.
5. [f. prime, ll. prima (sc. hora). see:
prime, a.] the morning; specifically (r. c. ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds. early and late it rung, at evening and at prime.note: originally, prime denoted the first quarter of the artificial day, reckoned from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. afterwards, it denoted the end of the first quarter, that is, 9 a. m. specifically, it denoted the first canonical hour, as now. chaucer uses it in all these senses, and also in the sense of def. 1, above. they sleep till that it was pryme large.
6. (fencing) the first of the chief guards.
7. (chem.) any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; -- so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as.
8. [obs. or archaic].
9. (arith.) a prime number. see:
under prime, a.
10. an inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [?]. see:
2d inch, n., 1.prime of the moon, the new moon at its first appearance.prime \prime\ , a. [f., fr. l. primus first, a superl. corresponding to the compar. prior former. see:
prior, a., foremost, former, and cf. prim, a., primary, prince.].
11. first in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. "prime forests." she was not the prime cause, but i myself.note: in this sense the word is nearly superseded by primitive, except in the phrase prime cost.
12. first in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister. "prime virtues.".
13. first in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
14. early; blooming; being in the first stage. [poetic] his starry helm, unbuckled, showed him prime in manhood where youth ended.
15. lecherous; lustful; lewd. [obs.].
16. marked or distinguished by a mark called a prime mark.prime and ultimate ratio. (math.). see:
ultimate.prime conductor. (elec.) see:
under conductor.prime factor (arith.), a factor which is a prime number.prime figure (geom.), a figure which can not be divided into any other figure more simple than itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, etc.prime meridian (astron.), the meridian from which longitude is reckoned, as the meridian of greenwich or washington.prime minister, the responsible head of a ministry or executive government; applied particularly to that of england.prime mover. (mech.) (a) a natural agency applied by man to the production of power. especially: muscular force; the weight and motion of fluids, as water and air; heat obtained by chemical combination, and applied to produce changes in the volume and pressure of steam, air, or other fluids; and electricity, obtained by chemical action, and applied to produce alternation of magnetic force. (b) an engine, or machine, the object of which is to receive and modify force and motion as supplied by some natural source, and apply them to drive other machines; as a water wh.
17. First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.
18. First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.
19. First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
20. Early; blooming; being in the first stage.
21. Lecherous; lustful; lewd.
22. Marked or distinguished by a mark called a prime mark.
23. The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.
24. The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.
25. That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
26. The morning; specifically , the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
27. The first of the chief guards.
28. Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1.
29. A prime number.
30. See under Prime, a.
31. An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; denoted by [′].
32. See 2d Inch, n., 1.
33. To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
34. To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon , as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
35. To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.
36. To trim or prune, as trees.
37. To mark with a prime mark.
38. To be renewed, or as at first.
39. To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.
40. To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; said of a steam boiler.
41. Divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number.
42. Having no common factor; used with to; as, 12 is prime to 25. a number that has no factor but itself and 1 the time of maturity when power and vigor are greatest the second canonical hour; about 6 a.m. insert a primer into preparatory to detonation or firing; "prime a cannon"; "prime a mine" fill with priming liquid; "prime a car engine" cover with a primer; apply a primer to at the best stage; "our manhood's prime vigor"- Robert Browning of or relating to or being an integer that cannot be factored into other integers; "prime number".
43. 1. You use prime to describe something that is most important in a situation. Political stability, meanwhile, will be a prime concern It could be a prime target for guerrilla attack The police will see:
me as the prime suspect!.
44. You use prime to describe something that is of the best possible quality. It was one of the City's prime sites, near the Stock Exchange.
45. You use prime to describe an example of a particular kind of thing that is absolutely typical. The prime example is Macy's, once the undisputed king of California retailers. = classic.
46. If someone or something is in their prime, they are at the stage in their existence when they are at their strongest, most active, or most successful. She was in her intellectual prime We've had a series of athletes trying to come back well past their prime. young persons in the prime of life.
47. If you prime someone to do something, you prepare them to do it, for example by giving them information about it beforehand. Claire wished she'd primed Sarah beforehand Arnold primed her for her duties The press corps was primed to leap to the defense of the fired officials. = brief.
48. to prime the pump: see:
pump. the time in your life when you are strongest and most active in your prime.
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