n.
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, feminine of prim first, from Latin primus; akin to Latin prior
Date: 14th century
1 : first in time : ORIGINAL
2 a : of, relating to, or being a prime number ― compare RELATIVELY PRIME b : having no polynomial factors other than itself and no monomial factors other than 1 <a prime polynomial> c : expressed as a product of prime factors (as prime numbers and prime polynomials) <a prime factorization>
3 a : first in rank, authority, or significance : PRINCIPAL <a prime example> b : having the highest quality or value < prime farmland> c : of the highest grade regularly marketed ― used of meat and especially beef
4 : not deriving from something else : PRIMARY
– prime · ly adverb
– prime · ness noun