/ ˈpraɪmə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] a type of paint that is put on wood, metal, etc. before it is painted to help the paint to stay on the surface
2.
[ C ] /ˈpraɪmə(r); NAmE ˈprɪmər/ ( NAmE ) a book that contains basic instructions :
The President doesn't need a primer on national security.
3.
[ C ] /ˈpraɪmə(r); NAmE ˈprɪmər/ ( old-fashioned ) a book for teaching children how to read, or containing basic facts about a school subject
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 2 to 3 late Middle English : from medieval Latin primarius (liber) primary (book) and primarium (manuale) primary (manual).