/ ˈpraɪməri; NAmE -meri/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] main; most important; basic
SYN prime :
The primary aim of this course is to improve your spoken English.
Our primary concern must be the children.
Good health care is of primary importance.
2.
[ usually before noun ] developing or happening first; earliest :
primary causes
The disease is still in its primary stage.
3.
[ only before noun ] ( especially BrE ) connected with the education of children between the ages of about five and eleven :
primary teachers
—compare elementary , secondary , tertiary
■ noun
( pl. -ies ) (also ˌprimary eˈlection ) (in the US) an election in which people in a particular area vote to choose a candidate for a future important election :
the Illinois primary
the presidential primaries
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense original, not derivative ): from Latin primarius , from primus first. The noun uses date from the 18th cent.