[prime] n [ME, fr. OE prim, fr. L prima hora first hour] (bef. 12c) 1 a often cap: the second of the canonical hours b: the first hour of the day usu. considered either as
6. a.m. or the hour of sunrise
2. a: the earliest stage b: spring c: youth
3: the most active, thriving, or successful stage or period "in the ~ of his life"
4: the chief or best individual or part: pick "~ of the flock, and choicest of the stall --Alexander Pope"
5: prime number
6. a: the first note or tone of a musical scale: tonic b: the interval between two notes on the same staff degree 7: the symbol often used to represents minutes or arc 8: prime rate
[2]prime adj [ME, fr. MF, fem. of prin first, fr. L primus; akin to L prior] (14c) 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 ~ polynomial" c: expressed as a product of prime factors (as prime numbers and prime polynomials) "a ~ factorization" 3 a: first in rank, authority, or significance: principal b: having the highest quality or value "~ farmland" c: of the highest grade regularly marketed--used of meat and esp. beef
4: not deriving from something else: primary -- prime.ly adv -- prime.ness n [3]prime vb primed ; prim.ing [prob. fr. [1]prime] vt (1513) 1: fill, load
2. a: to prepare for firing by supplying with priming b: to insert a primer into (a cartridge case)
3: to apply the first color, coating, or preparation to "~ a wall"
4: to put into working order by filling or charging with something "~ a pump with water"
5: to instruct beforehand: coach "primed the witness"
6: stimulate ~ vi: to become prime -- prime the pump : to take steps to encourage the growth or functioning of something