Definitions for primary
ˈpraɪ mɛr i, -mə ripri·ma·ry

Princeton's WordNet(2.43 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. primary, primary election(noun)

   a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen

2. primary, primary feather, primary quill(noun)

   one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing

3. primary(noun)

   (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it

4. primary coil, primary winding, primary(adj)

   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"

5. primary(adj)

   of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary

   "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest"

6. primary(adj)

   not derived from or reducible to something else; basic

   "a primary instinct"

7. chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)(adj)

   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"

8. elementary, elemental, primary(adj)

   of or being the essential or basic part

   "an elementary need for love and nurturing"

9. basal, primary(adj)

   of primary importance

Wiktionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. primary(Noun)

   A primary election; a preliminary election to select a political candidate of a political party.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

2. primary(Noun)

   The first year of grade school.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

3. primary(Noun)

   A base or fundamental component; something that is irreducible.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

4. primary(Noun)

   The most massive component of a gravitationally bound system.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

5. primary(Noun)

   A primary school.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

6. primary(Noun)

   Any flight feather attached to the manus (hand) of a bird.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

7. primary(Noun)

   A primary colour.

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

8. primary(Noun)

   A directly driven inductive coil, as in a transformer or induction motor that is magnetically coupled to a secondary

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

9. primary(Verb)

   To take part in a primary election

   Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

10. primary(Adjective)

    The first in a group or series.

    Children attend primary school, teenagers attend secondary school.

    Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

11. primary(Adjective)

    That which is placed ahead of others.

    Preferred stock has primary claim on dividends, ahead of common stock.

    Etymology: From the primarius, from primus (“first”; whence the adjective prime) + -arius (whence the suffix -ary); compare the primaire, primer, and premier.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Primary(adj)

   first in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

2. Primary(adj)

   first in order, as being preparatory to something higher; as, primary assemblies; primary schools

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

3. Primary(adj)

   first in dignity or importance; chief; principal; as, primary planets; a matter of primary importance

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

4. Primary(adj)

   earliest formed; fundamental

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

5. Primary(adj)

   illustrating, possessing, or characterized by, some quality or property in the first degree; having undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

6. Primary(noun)

   that which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

7. Primary(noun)

   a primary meeting; a caucus

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

8. Primary(noun)

   one of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing. See Plumage, and Illust. of Bird

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

9. Primary(noun)

   a primary planet; the brighter component of a double star. See under Planet

   Etymology: [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Primary

   "Primary" is the only single from The Cure's third studio album Faith, released in 1981 on Fiction Records. It was the first song by The Cure to be remixed as a separate extended mix for release on 12" single. In fact, the original 12" extended mix is, to this day, still only available on the original 12" single, which has never been reproduced on any other album, making it quite a rare item. The main difference between the 7" mix, and 12" mix is that the extended mix lengthens the instrumental introductions to the song's verses.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Primary

   prī′mar-i, adj. first: original: chief: primitive: elementary, preparatory.—n. that which is highest in rank or importance: a planet in relation to its satellite or satellites.—adv. Prī′marily.—ns. Prī′mariness, the state of being first in time, act, or intention; Prī′mary-ac′cent, the accent immediately after a bar in music.—ns.pl. Prī′mary-col′ours, the colours obtained by passing the sun's rays through a prism: the colours of the rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet; Prī′mary-plan′ets, planets revolving round the sun—not satellites; Prī′mary-quills, the largest feathers of a bird's wing; Prī′mary-rocks, the rocks which seem to have been first formed and contain no animal remains, as granites, &c.

The Standard Electrical Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Primary

   A term used to designate the inducing coil in an induction coil or transformer; it is probably an abbreviation for primary coil.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. primary

   A perfect, accurate and specific facet.

   Primary school is vital for every child.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 4, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'primary' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1166

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'primary' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2105

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'primary' in Nouns Frequency: #3003

4. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'primary' in Adjectives Frequency: #145

How to pronounce primary?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say primary in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of primary in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of primary in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of primary in a Sentence

1. Jeff Flake:

   I've said many times, this is a tough party right now for a Republican like me, so, it is tough to get through a primary, if you agree with the President's positions or condone his behavior. So, I just can't do that.

2. Scott Huffmon:

   Trump leads across multiple categories of voters from a high of 35% among those who wish to create a database of Muslims in the U.S. to a low of 22% among evangelical Christians, who will make up nearly 60% of the S.C. GOP presidential primary electorate.

3. Lydia Washington:

   The primary reason for currency redesign is security against counterfeiting, not aesthetics.

4. Rebecca Lindland:

   Fuel economy is an important part of the cost structure but hasn't historically been the primary driver of an increase, until consumers and families are driving around in these vehicles we won't see fuel efficiency and economy gains.

5. Evy Hambro:

   The primary thing (investors) want is ... when the gold price goes up, the company makes more money. They need to know with every ounce that's mined there's a margin attached to it.

Images & Illustrations of primary

Popularity rank by frequency of use