Main Entry:

¹pri·ma·ry

Pronunciation:

\ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, ˈprī-mə-rē, ˈprīm-rē\

Function:

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 atom5: 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>