Primer

noun
1.
an elementary book for teaching children to read.
2.
any book of elementary principles:
a primer of phonetics.
3.
great primer.
4.
long primer.
noun
1.
a person or thing that primes.
2.
a cap, cylinder, etc., containing a compound that may be exploded by percussion or other means, used for firing a charge of powder.
3.
a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc., given to any surface as a base, sealer, or the like.
adjective
1.
of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration:
a prime requisite.
2.
of the greatest relevance or significance:
a prime example.
3.
of the highest eminence or rank:
the prime authority on Chaucer.
4.
of the greatest commercial value:
prime building lots.
5.
first-rate:
This ale is prime!
6.
(of meat, especially of beef) noting or pertaining to the first grade or best quality:
prime ribs of beef.
7.
first in order of time, existence, or development; earliest; primitive.
8.
basic; fundamental:
the prime axioms of his philosophy.
9.
Mathematics. (of any two or more numbers) having no common divisor except unity:
The number 2 is prime to 9.
noun
10.
the most flourishing stage or state.
11.
the time of early manhood or womanhood:
the prime of youth.
12.
the period or state of greatest perfection or vigor of human life:
a man in his prime.
13.
the choicest or best part of anything.
14.
(especially in the grading of U.S. beef) a grade, classification, or designation indicating the highest or most desirable quality.
15.
the beginning or earliest stage of any period.
16.
the spring of the year.
17.
the first hour or period of the day, after sunrise.
18.
Banking. prime rate.
19.
Ecclesiastical. the second of the seven canonical hours or the service for it, originally fixed for the first hour of the day.
20.
Mathematics.

prime number.
one of the equal parts into which a unit is primarily divided.
the mark (′) indicating such a division:
a, a′.

21.
Fencing. the first of eight defensive positions.
22.
Music.

unison (def 2).
(in a scale) the tonic or keynote.

23.
Linguistics. any basic, indivisible unit used in linguistic analysis.
24.
Metallurgy. a piece of tin plate free from visible defects.
verb (used with object), primed, priming.
25.
to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose or operation.
26.
to supply (a firearm) with powder for communicating fire to a charge.
27.
to lay a train of powder to (a charge, mine, etc.).
28.
to pour or admit liquid into (a pump) to expel air and prepare for action.
29.
to put fuel into (a carburetor) before starting an engine, in order to insure a sufficiently rich mixture at the start.
30.
to cover (a surface) with a preparatory coat or color, as in painting.
31.
to supply or equip with information, words, etc., for use:
The politician was primed by his aides for the press conference.
32.
to harvest the bottom leaves from (a tobacco plant).
verb (used without object), primed, priming.
33.
(of a boiler) to deliver or discharge steam containing an excessive amount of water.
34.
to harvest the bottom leaves from a tobacco plant.
noun
1.
an introductory text, such as a school textbook
2.
(printing) See long primer, great primer
noun
1.
a person or thing that primes
2.
a device, such as a tube containing explosive, for detonating the main charge in a gun, mine, etc
3.
a substance, such as paint, applied to a surface as a base, sealer, etc
adjective
1.
(prenominal) first in quality or value; first-rate
2.
(prenominal) fundamental; original
3.
(prenominal) first in importance, authority, etc; chief
4.
(maths)

having no factors except itself or one: x² + x + 3 is a prime polynomial
(foll by to) having no common factors (with): 20 is prime to 21

5.
(finance) having the best credit rating: prime investments
noun
6.
the time when a thing is at its best
7.
a period of power, vigour, etc, usually following youth (esp in the phrase the prime of life)
8.
the beginning of something, such as the spring
9.
(maths) short for prime number
10.
(linguistics) a semantically indivisible element; minimal component of the sense of a word
11.
(music)

unison
the tonic of a scale

12.
(mainly RC Church) the second of the seven canonical hours of the divine office, originally fixed for the first hour of the day, at sunrise
13.
the first of eight basic positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing
verb
14.
to prepare (something); make ready
15.
(transitive) to apply a primer, such as paint or size, to (a surface)
16.
(transitive) to fill (a pump) with its working fluid before starting, in order to improve the sealing of the pump elements and to expel air from it before starting
17.
(transitive) to increase the quantity of fuel in the float chamber of (a carburettor) in order to facilitate the starting of an engine
18.
(transitive) to insert a primer into (a gun, mine, charge, etc) preparatory to detonation or firing
19.
(intransitive) (of a steam engine or boiler) to operate with or produce steam mixed with large amounts of water
20.
(transitive) to provide with facts, information, etc, beforehand; brief