prime

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Adjective 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.2.2 Noun 1.2.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2.2 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.3.1.2 Translations 1.4 Derived terms 1.5 Related terms 1.6 See also 1.7 References 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun 3 Italian 3.1 Adjective 4 Romanian 4.1 Pronunciation 4.2 Adjective 5 Spanish 5.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: prīm, IPA: /praɪm/, SAMPA: /praIm/
• Rhymes: -aɪm

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old (and modern) French prime, from Latin primus (“‘first’”), from Old Latin pri (“‘before’”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“‘beyond, before’”).

[edit] Adjective

prime (not comparable)

1. First in time, order, or sequence

   Both the English and French governments established prime meridians in their capitals.

2. First in excellence, quality, or value.

   This is a prime location for a bookstore.

3. (mathematics) Having no integral factors except itself and unity (1 in the case of integers).

   Thirteen is a prime number.

4. First in importance, degree, or rank.

   Our prime concern here is to keep the community safe.

5. (mathematics) Having its complement closed under multiplication: said only of ideals.

[edit] Synonyms

• (first in importance, degree, or rank): greatest, most important, main, primary, principal, top
• (first in excellence, quality, or value): excellent, top quality
• (first in time, order, or sequence): earliest, first, original
• (in mathematics):

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

prime (plural primes)

1. the earliest stage
2. the most active, thriving, or successful stage or period
3. the chief or best individual or part
4. (music) The first note or tone of a musical scale.
5. (fencing) The first defensive position, with the sword hand held at head height, and the tip of the sword at head height.
6. (algebra, number theory) A prime element of a mathematical structure, particularly a prime number.

   3 is a prime.

7. (backgammon) Six consecutive blocks, which prevent the opponent's pieces from passing in backgammon.

   I'm threatening to build a prime here.

[edit] Synonyms

• (most active, thriving, or successful stage or period): bloom, blossom, efflorescence, flower, flush, heyday, peak
• (chief or best individual or part): choice, prize, quality, select
• (algebra: prime element of a mathematical structure): prime number (when an integer)

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Origin uncertain; perhaps related to primage.

[edit] Verb

to prime (third-person singular simple present primes, present participle priming, simple past and past participle primed)

1. (transitive) To prepare a mechanism for its main work.

   You'll have to press this button twice to prime the fuel pump.

2. (transitive) To apply a coat of primer paint to.

   I need to prime these handrails before we can apply the finish coat.

[edit] Synonyms

• (to apply a coat of primer paint to): ground, undercoat

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• primer

[edit] Related terms

• primal
• primary
• primate
• Primates
• primy

[edit] See also

• prime contract
• prime decomposition
• prime factorization
• prime number
• pseudoprime

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Oxford-Paravia Concise - Dizionario Inglese-Italiano e Italiano-Inglese (in collaborazione con Oxford University Press). Edited by Maria Cristina Bareggi. Torino: Paravia, 2003. ISBN 8839551107. Online version here

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

prime f.

1. bounty (reward)

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Adjective

prime f plural

1. feminine plural of primo

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[edit] Romanian

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: ['pri.me]

[edit] Adjective

prime

1. feminine plural nominative form of prim.
2. feminine plural accusative form of prim.
3. neuter plural nominative form of prim.
4. neuter plural accusative form of prim.

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[edit] Spanish

[edit] Verb

prime (infinitive: primar)

1. first-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of primar.
2. formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of primar.
3. third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of primar.