pri·mar·y (pr  m r  , -m -r)adj. 1. First or highest in rank, quality, or importance; principal. 2. Being or standing first in a list, series, or sequence. 3. Occurring first in time or sequence; earliest. 4. Being or existing as the first or earliest of a kind; primitive. 5. Geology Characteristic of or existing in a rock at the time of its formation. 6. Serving as or being an essential component, as of a system; basic. See Synonyms at chief. 7. a. Immediate; direct: a primary effect; a primary information source. b. Preliminary to a later stage in a continuing process: primary training. c. Of or relating to a primary school: the primary grades. 8. Of or relating to a primary color or colors. 9. Linguistics a. Having a word root or other linguistic element as a basis that cannot be further analyzed or broken down. Used of the derivation of a word or word element. b. Referring to present or future time. Used as a collective designation for various present and future verb tenses in Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit. 10. Electronics Of, relating to, or constituting an inducting current, circuit, or coil. 11. Of, relating to, or designating the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing. 12. Of or relating to agriculture, forestry, the industries that extract natural materials from the earth, or the products so obtained: a primary commodity. 13. Chemistry a. Relating to the replacement of one of several atoms or radicals in a compound by another atom or radical. b. Having a carbon atom attached solely to one other carbon atom in a molecule. 14. Botany Of, relating to, or derived from a primary meristem. n. pl. pri·mar·ies 1. a. One that is first in time, order, or sequence. b. One that is first or best in degree, quality, or importance. c. One that is fundamental, basic, or elemental. 2. a. A meeting of the registered voters of a political party for the purpose of nominating candidates and for choosing delegates to their party convention. b. A preliminary election in which the registered voters of a political party nominate candidates for office. 3. A primary color. 4. A primary flight feather. 5. Electronics An inducting current, circuit, or coil. 6. Astronomy a. A celestial body, especially a star, relative to other bodies in orbit around it. b. The brighter of two stars that make up a double star. [Middle English, from Latin pr m rius, chief, from prmus, first; see per1 in Indo-European roots.] |
primary [ˈpraɪmərɪ]
adj
1. first in importance, degree, rank, etc.
2. first in position or time, as in a series
3. fundamental; basic
4. being the first stage; elementary
5. (Social Science / Education) (prenominal) of or relating to the education of children up to the age of 11
6. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (of the flight feathers of a bird's wing) growing from the manus
7. (Electronics)
a. being the part of an electric circuit, such as a transformer or induction coil, in which a changing current induces a current in a neighbouring circuit a primary coil
b. (of a current) flowing in such a circuit Compare secondary
8. (Business / Commerce)
a. (of a product) consisting of a natural raw material; unmanufactured
9. (Chemistry) Chem
a. (of an organic compound) having a functional group attached to a carbon atom that is attached to at least two hydrogen atoms
b. (of an amine) having only one organic group attached to the nitrogen atom; containing the group NH2
c. (of a salt) derived from a tribasic acid by replacement of one acidic hydrogen atom with a metal atom or electropositive group
10. (Linguistics) Linguistics
a. derived from a word that is not a derivation but the ultimate form itself. Lovable is a primary derivative of love
b. (of Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit tenses) referring to present or future time Compare historic [3]
11. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science) Geology relating to magmas that have not experienced fractional crystallization or crystal contamination
n pl -ries
1. a person or thing that is first in rank, occurrence, etc.
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (in the US)
a. a preliminary election in which the voters of a state or region choose a party's convention delegates, nominees for office, etc. See also closed primary, direct primary, open primary
b. a local meeting of voters registered with one party to nominate candidates, select convention delegates, etc. Full name primary election
3. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Colours) See primary colour
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) any of the flight feathers growing from the manus of a bird's wing
5. (Electronics) a primary coil, winding, inductance, or current in an electric circuit
6. (Astronomy) Astronomy a celestial body around which one or more specified secondary bodies orbit the sun is the primary of the earth
[from Latin prīmārius of the first rank, principal, from prīmus first]
pri•ma•ry (ˈpraɪ mɛr i, -mə ri)
adj., n., pl. -ries. adj.
1. first in rank or importance; chief: one's primary goal in life.
2. first in order in any series, sequence, etc.
3. first in time; earliest.
4. of or pertaining to primary school: the primary grades.
5. being of the simplest or most basic order of its or their kind: a primary constituent; a primary classification.
6. immediate or direct; not involving intermediate agency: primary perceptions.
7. pertaining to any of the set of flight feathers situated on the outermost segment of a bird's wing.
8. noting or pertaining to the circuit, coil, winding, or current that induces electric current in secondary windings in an induction coil, transformer, or the like.
9. Chem.
a. involving or obtained by replacement of one atom or group.
b. noting or containing a carbon atom united to no other or to only one other carbon atom in a molecule.
10. Gram.
n. a. (of a derivative) having a root or other unanalyzable element as the underlying form.
b. (of Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit tenses) having reference to present or future time. Compare secondary (def. 7).
11. something that is first in order or importance.
12.
a. a preliminary election in which voters of each political party nominate candidates for office, party officers, etc.
b. a local meeting of party members to select candidates or delegates; caucus.
13. primary color.
14. a primary feather.
15.
a. a body in relation to a smaller body or smaller bodies revolving around it, as a planet in relation to its satellites.
b. the brighter of the two stars comprising a double star. Compare companion 1 (def. 7).
pri′ma•ri•ness, n.
| primary (prmr) 1. Relating to a primary color. 2. Relating to plant tissues or growth derived from the apical meristem in the tips of roots and shoots, whose cells divide and elongate to cause the plant to grow lengthwise. 3. a. Relating to or having a carbon atom that is attached to only one other carbon atom in a molecule. b. Relating to an organic molecule, such as an alcohol, in which the functional group is attached to a primary carbon. A primary alcohol, for example, has the hydroxyl (OH) group attached to the last carbon in a chain. 4. a. Arising first and spontaneously, as a disease, disorder, or tumor, and not as a result of a known medical condition or injury. b. Relating to the first set of teeth that develops in humans. |
Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  primary - a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosenelection - a vote to select the winner of a position or political office; "the results of the election will be announced tonight" direct primary - a primary where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office |
| 2. | primary - one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing | |
| 3. | primary - (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole celestial body, heavenly body - natural objects visible in the sky | |
| 4. |  primary - coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit; "current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil"coil - reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit transformer - an electrical device by which alternating current of one voltage is changed to another voltage | |
| Adj. | 1. | primary - of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest" essential - basic and fundamental; "the essential feature" first - preceding all others in time or space or degree; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training" original - being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of; "a truly original approach"; "with original music"; "an original mind" secondary - being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher"; "a secondary source"; "a secondary issue"; "secondary streams" |
| 2. | primary - not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; "a primary instinct" underived - not derived; primary or simple | |
| 3. | primary - most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch" | |
| 4. | primary - of or being the essential or basic part; "an elementary need for love and nurturing" basic - pertaining to or constituting a base or basis; "a basic fact"; "the basic ingredients"; "basic changes in public opinion occur because of changes in priorities" | |
| 5. | primary - of primary importance essential - basic and fundamental; "the essential feature" |
primary
adjective
1. chief, leading, main, best, first, highest, greatest, top, prime, capital, principal, dominant, cardinal, paramount His primary aim in life is to be happy.
chief lowest, lesser, subordinate, inferior, supplementary, unimportant
chief lowest, lesser, subordinate, inferior, supplementary, unimportant
2. basic, essential, radical, fundamental, ultimate, underlying, elemental, bog-standard (informal) our primary needs of air, food and water
Translations
primary [ˈpraɪmərɪ]
A. ADJ
1. (= chief, main) [reason, purpose, source] → principal
our primary concern is the well-being of our children → nuestra mayor or principal preocupación es el bienestar de nuestros hijos
that is not the primary reason → ésa no es la razón principal
our primary concern is the well-being of our children → nuestra mayor or principal preocupación es el bienestar de nuestros hijos
that is not the primary reason → ésa no es la razón principal
3. (= first) → primario
4. (esp Brit) (Scol) (= elementary) → primario
B. N
3. = primary school
C. CPD primary colour N → color m primario
primary education N (esp Brit) → enseñanza f primaria, educación f primaria
primary election N (US) → elección f primaria, primaria f
primary products NPL → productos mpl primarios
primary school N (Brit) → escuela f primaria (US) → escuela f primaria(de primer ciclo) (6-9 años)
primary storage N → almacenamiento m primario
primary teacher N (also primary school teacher) (Brit) → profesor(a) m/f de enseñanza primaria, maestro/a m/f
primary education N (esp Brit) → enseñanza f primaria, educación f primaria
primary election N (US) → elección f primaria, primaria f
primary products NPL → productos mpl primarios
primary school N (Brit) → escuela f primaria (US) → escuela f primaria(de primer ciclo) (6-9 años)
primary storage N → almacenamiento m primario
primary teacher N (also primary school teacher) (Brit) → profesor(a) m/f de enseñanza primaria, maestro/a m/f
PRIMARIES
Las elecciones primarias (primaries) sirven para preseleccionar a los candidatos de los partidos demócrata (Democratic) y republicano (Republican) durante la campaña que precede a las elecciones a Presidente de Estados Unidos. Se inician en New Hampshire y tienen lugar en 35 estados entre los meses de febrero y junio. El número de votos obtenidos por cada candidato determina el número de delegados que votarán en el congreso general (National Convention) de julio y agosto, en el que se decide el candidato definitivo de cada partido.
primary [ˈpraɪməri]
adj
(= first in importance) [purpose, concern, responsibility,] → principal(e); [source, cause, reason] → principal(e) often before n
(= early) [stage, tumour] → primaire; [version] → premier/ière after n
[teacher, pupil] → du primaire
n
(US) (= election) → primaire f
(= tumour) → tumeur f primaire
primary care primary health care n → soins mpl primaires, soins mpl de santé primaires
primary colour n → couleur f primaire
primary education n → enseignement m primaire
primary election n → élection f primaire
primary school n (British) → école f primaire
She's still at primary school → Elle est encore à l'école primaire.
primary teacher primary schoolteacher n → professeur(e) m/f des écoles, professeur mf des écoles
She's a primary schoolteacher → C'est une professeure des écoles or une professeur des écoles.
primary care primary health care n → soins mpl primaires, soins mpl de santé primaires
primary colour n → couleur f primaire
primary education n → enseignement m primaire
primary election n → élection f primaire
primary school n (British) → école f primaire
She's still at primary school → Elle est encore à l'école primaire.
primary teacher primary schoolteacher n → professeur(e) m/f des écoles, professeur mf des écoles
She's a primary schoolteacher → C'est une professeure des écoles or une professeur des écoles.
primary
primary:
adj (= chief, main) → Haupt-, wesentlich, primär (form); that is our primary concern → das ist unser Hauptanliegen or unsere Hauptsorge; of primary importance → von größter Bedeutung, von äußerster Wichtigkeit; the primary meaning of a word → die Grundbedeutung eines Wortes; primary source of income → Haupteinnahmequelle f; at primary level (Brit Sch) → in der Grundschule, auf Grundschulniveau
n
(= colour) → Grundfarbe f
(esp Brit: = primary school) → Grundschule f
(US: = election) → (innerparteiliche) Vorwahl
primary:
primary care
n (Med) → Gesundheitsfürsorge f → auf kommunaler Ebene
primary cell
n → Primärzelle f
primary colour, (US) primary color
n → Grundfarbe f
primary education
n → Grundschul(aus)bildung f
primary election
n (US) → (innerparteiliche) Vorwahl
primary feather
n → Handschwinge f
primary industry
primary institution
n → Ureinrichtung f
primary producer
n → Lieferant(in) m(f) → von Rohmaterial
primary product
n → Primärprodukt nt; (= main product) → Hauptprodukt nt
primary school
n (esp Brit) → Grundschule f
primary school teacher
n (esp Brit) → Grundschullehrer(in) m(f)
primary stress
n → Hauptton m
primary teacher
n (esp Brit) → Grundschullehrer(in) m(f)
primary winding
n → Primärwindung f
primary [ˈpraɪmərɪ]
1. adj (chief, main, gen) → principale, primario/a
of primary importance → di primaria or fondamentale importanza
of primary importance → di primaria or fondamentale importanza
2. n (Am) (election) → primarie fpl
pri·mar·y
a. inicial, primario-a, rel. al contacto o atención de un caso en su principio; ___ physician → médico de cabecera, facultativo que atiende al paciente inicialmente, esp. un pediatra o médico de familia.
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