Definition of Primary

1. Noun. A preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen.

Exact synonyms: Primary Election
Generic synonyms: Election
Specialized synonyms: Direct Primary

2. Adjective. Of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary. "A primary interest"

3. Noun. One of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing.

4. Adjective. Not derived from or reducible to something else; basic. "A primary instinct"
Similar to: Underived

5. Noun. (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it.
Category relationships: Astronomy, Uranology
Generic synonyms: Celestial Body, Heavenly Body

6. Adjective. Most important element. "A master switch"
Exact synonyms: Chief, Main, Master, Principal
Similar to: Important, Of Import

7. Noun. 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"
Exact synonyms: Primary Coil, Primary Winding
Generic synonyms: Coil
Group relationships: Transformer

8. Adjective. Of or being the essential or basic part. "An elementary need for love and nurturing"
Exact synonyms: Elemental, Elementary
Similar to: Basic
Derivative terms: Element

9. Adjective. Of primary importance.
Exact synonyms: Basal
Similar to: Essential
Derivative terms: Base

Definition of Primary

1. a. First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original.

2. n. That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter.

Definition of Primary

1. Adjective. The first in a group or series. ¹

2. Adjective. That which is placed ahead of others. ¹

3. Noun. A primary election; a preliminary election to select a political candidate of a political party. ¹

4. Noun. The first year of grade school. ¹

5. Noun. A base or fundamental component; something that is irreducible. ¹

6. Noun. The most massive component of a gravitationally bound system. ¹

7. Noun. A primary school. ¹

8. Noun. (ornithology) Any flight feather attached to the manus (hand) of a bird. ¹

9. Noun. A primary colour. ¹

10. Noun. (electronics) A directly driven inductive coil, as in a transformer or induction motor that is magnetically coupled to a secondary ¹

11. Verb. (American English) To take part in a primary election ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Primary

1. a preliminary election [n -RIES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Primary

primal
primal cut
primal horde
primal hordes
primal scene
primal scream
primal screams
primal therapy
primalities
primality
primally
primaquine
primaries
primarily
primariness
primary (current term)
primary(a)
primary alcohol
primary alcohols
primary amenorrhea
primary amine
primary amines
primary atypical pneumonia
primary care
primary care physician
primary cell
primary cell wall
primary censorship
primary cilia
primary cilium

Literary usage of Primary

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"As reformed in March 1916, this comprises six divisions: primary (four years), ... primary schools are the concern of state (provincial) authorities. ..."

2. Education by Project Innovation (Organization) (1884)
"The answer is generally given with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, but very rarely have I been told that the primary schools were excellent. ..."

3. The Lancet (1842)
"The last of the series, which has for its primary symptom the ... The simple primary ulcer, without induration or raised edges. 2. Gonorrhoea virulenta. 3. ..."

4. A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental by David Hume (1890)
"Having taken fright at the 'mathematical Atheism,' which seemed to grow out of the current doctrines about primary qualities of matter, instead of applying ..."

5. A Treatise on Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental by David Hume, Thomas Hill Green, Thomas Hodge Grose (1882)
"Having taken fright at the ' mathematical Atheism,' which seemed to grow out of the current doctrines about primary qualities of matter, instead of applying ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Primary on Dictionary.com!Search for Primary on Thesaurus.com!Search for Primary on Google!Search for Primary on Wikipedia!

Search