primer

1 of 2

noun (1)

prim·​er ˈpri-mər 

 chiefly British  ˈprī-mə

1

: a small book for teaching children to read

2

: a small introductory book on a subject

3

: a short informative piece of writing

primer

2 of 2

noun (2)

prim·​er ˈprī-mər 

1

: a device for priming

especially : a cap, tube, or wafer containing percussion powder or compound used to ignite an explosive charge

2

: material used in priming a surface

called also prime coat

3

: a molecule (such as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (such as a longer chain of DNA)

Did you know?

Primers were once a standard part of every child's education. The first primer printed in North America, The New England Primer (ca. 1690), was typical; it contained many quotations from the Bible and many moral lessons, and the text was accompanied by numerous woodcut illustrations. We no longer use the word in early education, but it's widely used in everyday speech. Notice how primer is pronounced; don't mix it up with the kind of paint that's pronounced with a long *i *sound.

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• handbook
• manual
• text
• textbook

Examples of primer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But don’t be scared of its gripping qualities, this primer is also formulated with skin-friendly ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to add a bit of extra moisture, too. —Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024

The moisturizer can also be used as a primer under makeup. —Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

For that, a decent primer is provided by Middle East Travel and Tourism Editor, John Navarre. —Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Here’s a quick primer on what to know about Republic FC and why the club is interesting heading into the new season. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024

The prosecution argued that at least two rounds visible in the tray on her lap, which have distinctive silver-colored primers, were live rounds. —Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

Have a look at her full primer on how to blanch and freeze vegetables. —Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024

It’s also infused with primer for long-lasting wear, earning it hundreds of five star reviews on Ulta. —Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024

The historian Peter Brown’s memoir recounts an academic career that has taken him from Oxford to Iran to California, in a nostalgic portrait of twentieth-century academic life that can still offer a primer to young scholars. —Costica Bradatan, The New York Review of Books, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, "layperson's prayer book," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmārius, prīmārium, noun derivatives from masculine and neuter of prīmārius "lying at the beginning, primary entry 1"

Noun (2)

prime entry 3 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

primer

1 of 2 noun

prim·​er ˈprim-ər 

 especially British  ˈprī-mər

1

: a small book for teaching children to read

2

: a book that introduces a subject

a primer of chemistry

3

: a short informative piece of writing

a primer on healthy eating

primer

2 of 2 noun

prim·​er ˈprī-mər 

1

: a device (as a cap or tube) containing a small explosive charge that is used for setting off a larger explosive charge (as in a cartridge)

2

: material used in priming a surface

Medical Definition

primer

noun

prim·​er ˈprī-mər 

: a molecule (as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (as a longer chain of DNA)