Prime — Defs

01 a. First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.

1.
First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.
“She was not the prime cause, but I myself.” — Milton.
2.
First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.
3.
First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
4.
Early; blooming; being in the first stage.[Poetic]
“His starry helm, unbuckled, showed him prime In manhood where youth ended.” — Milton.
5.
Lecherous; lustful; lewd.[Obs.]
6.
Marked or distinguished by a mark (′) called a prime mark.
7.
Divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number.(Math.)

Phrases & compounds

Prime and ultimate ratio — See Ultimate.

Prime conductor — See under Conductor.

Prime factor — a factor which is a prime number.

Prime figure — a figure which can not be divided into any other figure more simple than itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, etc.

Prime meridian — the meridian from which longitude is reckoned, as the meridian of Greenwich or Washington.

Prime minister — the responsible head of a ministry or executive government; applied particularly to that of England.

Prime mover — A natural agency applied by man to the production of power. Especially: Muscular force; the weight and motion of fluids, as water and air; heat obtained by chemical combination, and applied to produce changes in the volume and pressure of steam, air, or other fluids; and electricity, obtained by chemical action, and applied to produce alternation of magnetic force.

Prime number — a number which is exactly divisible by no number except itself or unity, as 5, 7, 11.

Prime vertical — the vertical circle which passes through the east and west points of the horizon.

Prime-vertical dial — a dial in which the shadow is projected on the plane of the prime vertical.

Prime-vertical transit instrument — a transit instrument the telescope of which revolves in the plane of the prime vertical, -- used for observing the transit of stars over this circle.

02 n. The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.

1.
The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.
“In the very prime of the world.” — Hooker.

“Hope waits upon the flowery prime.” — Waller.
2.
The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.
3.
That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
“Give him always of the prime.” — Swift.
4.
The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.(R. C. Ch.)
“Early and late it rung, at evening and at prime.” — Spenser.

“They sleep till that it was pryme large.” — Chaucer.
5.
The first of the chief guards.(Fencing)
6.
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.(Chem.) [Obs. or Archaic]
7.
A prime number. See under Prime, a.(Arith.) See: Prime
8.
An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [′]. See 2d Inch, n., 1.[Outdated] See: Inch

Phrases & compounds

Prime of the moon — the new moon at its first appearance.

03 v. t. To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.

imp. & p. p. Primed; p. pr. & vb. n. Priming

1.
To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
2.
To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
3.
To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.[Colloq.]
4.
To trim or prune, as trees.[Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
5.
To mark with a prime mark.(Math.)

Phrases & compounds

To prime a pump — to charge a pump with water, in order to put it in working condition.

04 v. i. To be renewed, or as at first.

1.
To be renewed, or as at first.[Obs.]
“Night's bashful empress, though she often wane, As oft repeats her darkness, primes again.” — Quarles.
2.
To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.
3.
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.