prime

From Wiktionary
prime is on the Academic Word List.

Pronunciation[change]

Adjective[change]

Positive
prime

Comparative
none

Superlative
none

  1. (usually before a noun) If something is prime, it is best, most important, most suitable, or in some way number one.
    Canada is a prime example of a multicultural country.
    He was the prime suspect in the murder investigation.

Synonyms[change]

See also[change]

Noun[change]

Singular
prime

Plural
primes

  1. (countable) The prime is the best part of something.
    He was killed at the prime of his life.
  2. (countable) (mathematics) A prime is a number that can be evenly divided only by one and itself.
    The first six primes are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13.
  3. (countable) A prime is something that primes something else.

Verb[change]

Plain form
prime

Third-person singular
primes

Past tense
primed

Past participle
primed

Present participle
priming

  1. (transitive) If you prime something, you get it ready to do something.
    The coach has primed them for the game.
  2. (psychology) to manipulate, in a subtle manner, people's decision-making by use of symbols, location, etc.

Synonyms[change]