primary

primary
[[t]pra͟ɪməri, AM -meri[/t]]
♦♦♦
primaries
1) ADJ: ADJ n You use primary to describe something that is very important. [FORMAL]

That's the primary reason the company's share price has held up so well...

I don't think young people's primary aim in life is to get drunk...

His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems...

The family continues to be the primary source of care and comfort for people as they grow older.

Syn:
2) ADJ: ADJ n Primary education is given to pupils between the ages of 5 and 11. [BRIT]

Britain did not introduce compulsory primary education until 1880...

Ninety-nine per cent of primary pupils now have hands-on experience of computers.

...primary teachers.

(in AM, use elementary)
3) ADJ: ADJ n Primary is used to describe something that occurs first.

It is not the primary tumour that kills, but secondary growths elsewhere in the body...

They have been barred from primary bidding for clients.

4) N-COUNT A primary or a primary election is an election in an American state in which people vote for someone to become a candidate for a political office.

...the 1968 New Hampshire primary...

She won the Democratic primary...

New York holds its primary election on Tuesday.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Primary — Pri ma*ry, a. [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See {Prime}, a., and cf. {Premier}, {Primero}.] 1. First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original. [1913 Webster] The church of Christ, in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primary — pri·ma·ry 1 / prī ˌmer ē, mə rē/ adj 1: of first rank, value, or importance 2: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications pri·mar·i·ly /prī mer ə lē/ adv primary 2 n pl …   Law dictionary

  • primary — primary, primal, primordial, primitive, pristine, primeval, prime mean first in some respect (as order, character, or importance). Something primary comes first in the order of development or of progression. Sometimes the term means little more… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Primary — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Primary» Sencillo de The Cure del álbum Faith Publicación 17 de marzo de 1981 (Reino Unido) Formato …   Wikipedia Español

  • primary — pri‧ma‧ry [ˈpraɪmri ǁ meri] adjective 1. main or most important: • Its primary business is developing and marketing new software. • The primary problem for the airlines is the recession. • It uses coal as its primary source of fuel. 2 …   Financial and business terms

  • primary — [prī′mer΄ē, prī′mə rē] adj. [ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see PRIME] 1. first in time or order of development; primitive; original; earliest 2. from which others are derived; fundamental; elemental; basic 3. designating colors… …   English World dictionary

  • Primary — Single par The Cure extrait de l’album Faith Face A Primary Face B Descent Sortie 17 mars 1981 Enregistrement …   Wikipédia en Français

  • primary — late 15c., of the first order, from L. primarius of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent, from primus first (see PRIME (Cf. prime) (adj.) ). Primary color is first recorded 1610s; primary school is 1802, from Fr. école primaire. The Paris… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Primary — Pri ma*ry, n.; pl. {Primaries}. 1. That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter. [1913 Webster] 2. A primary meeting; a caucus. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zo[ o]l.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird s wing.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primary — / prime [adj1] best, principal capital, cardinal, chief, crackerjack*, dominant, excellent, fab*, first, first class*, greatest, heavy, highest, hot*, leading, main, number one*, paramount, primo*, state of the art*, stellar, top, top of the… …   New thesaurus

  • primary — primary/secondary qualities …   Philosophy dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”