PRIMITIVE


Meaning of PRIMITIVE in English

I. prim ‧ i ‧ tive 1 /ˈprɪmətɪv, ˈprɪmɪtɪv/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: primitivus , from primus ; ⇨ ↑ prime 1 ]

1 . WAY OF LIFE belonging to a simple way of life that existed in the past and does not have modern industries and machines OPP advanced , modern :

a primitive society

a primitive nomadic tribe

the tools used by primitive man

primitive art

2 . NOT MODERN something that is primitive is very simple and does not have the extra modern parts that would make it faster, better, more comfortable etc OPP advanced , modern :

The first station buildings were quite primitive.

The local hospital care is primitive and unreliable.

Conditions at the camp are very primitive.

a primitive steam engine

3 . ANIMALS/PLANTS a primitive animal or plant has a simple structure or body:

primitive life-forms that live deep in the ocean

a primitive single-celled creature

4 . FEELINGS primitive feelings are not based on reason, and seem to come from a part of people’s character that is ancient and animal-like:

the primitive instinct of survival

primitive desires

—primitively adverb

—primitiveness noun [uncountable]

II. primitive 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]

an artist who paints simple pictures like those of a child

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.