I. ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, ˈprī-mə-rē, ˈprīm-rē adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin primarius basic, primary, from Latin, principal, from primus
Date: 15th century
1. : first in order of time or development : primitive
the primary stage of civilization
the primary lesion of a disease
2.
a. : of first rank, importance, or value : principal
the primary purpose
b. : basic , fundamental
security is a primary need
c. : of, relating to, or constituting the principal quills of a bird's wing
d. : of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products
e. : expressive of present or future time
primary tense
f. : of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists
the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress
3.
a. : direct , firsthand
primary sources of information
b. : not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes
c. : preparatory to something else in a continuing process
primary instruction
d. : of or relating to a primary school
primary education
e. : of or relating to a primary election
a primary candidate
f. : belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications
primary nerves
g. : directly derived from ores
primary metals
h. : of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins
primary protein structure
4. : resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule
a primary amine
especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
5. : of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem
primary tissue
primary growth
6. : of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants
primary productivity
7. : providing primary care
a primary physician
II. noun
( plural -ries )
Date: 1656
1. : something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental — usually used in plural
2. : the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve ; especially : the more massive usually brighter component of a binary star system
3. : one of the usually 9 or 10 strong quills on the distal joint of a bird's wing — see wing illustration
4.
a. : primary color
b. : the sensation of seeing primary colors
5.
a. : caucus
b. : an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention
6. : the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer — called also primary coil