adj lecherous; lustful; lewd.
2. prime ·adj to mark with a prime mark.
3. prime ·adj to trim or prune, as trees.
4. prime ·adj the first of the chief guards.
5. prime ·vi to be renewed, or as at first.
6. prime ·adj a prime number. ·see under prime, ·adj.
7. prime ·adj early; blooming; being in the first stage.
8. prime ·vi to serve as priming for the charge of a gun.
9. prime ·adj marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark.
10. prime ·adj first in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.
11. prime ·noun that which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
12. prime ·adj first in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.
13. prime ·add. ·adj having no common factor;
used with to; as, 12 is prime to 25.
14. prime ·noun the spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.
15. prime ·adj first in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
xvi. prime ·adj the morning; specifically (r. c. ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
xvii. prime ·add. ·adj divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number.
xviii. prime ·adj to apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
xix. prime ·adj an inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system;
denoted by . ·see 2d inch, ·noun, 1.
xx. prime ·adj to lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
xxi. prime ·noun the first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, ·etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.
xxii. prime ·vi to work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed;
said of a steam boiler.
xxiii. prime ·adj to prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.
xxiv. prime ·adj any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element;
so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1.