prime
[praɪm]
adj
first in quality or value; first-rate
fundamental; original
first in importance, authority, etc; chief
having no factors except itself or one.having no common factors (with)
having the best credit rating
prime investments
n
the time when a thing is at its best
a period of power, vigour, etc, usually following youth (esp in the phrase the prime of life)
the beginning of something, such as the spring
short for prime number
a semantically indivisible element; minimal component of the sense of a word
unison.the tonic of a scale
the second of the seven canonical hours of the divine office, originally fixed for the first hour of the day, at sunrise
the first of eight basic positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing
vb
to prepare (something); make ready
to apply a primer, such as paint or size, to (a surface)
to fill (a pump) with its working fluid before starting, in order to improve the sealing of the pump elements and to expel air from it before starting
to increase the quantity of fuel in the float chamber of (a carburettor) in order to facilitate the starting of an engine
to insert a primer into (a gun, mine, charge, etc) preparatory to detonation or firing
(of a steam engine or boiler) to operate with or produce steam mixed with large amounts of water
to provide with facts, information, etc, beforehand; brief
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