primary

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Word parts

prime + -ary

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈpraɪməri/, SAMPA: /"praIm@ri/
• (US) enPR: prīʹmĕr-ē, IPA ^(key): /ˈpraɪmɛri/, SAMPA: /"praImEri/ or enPR: prīʹmə-rē, IPA ^(key): /ˈpraɪməri/, SAMPA: /"praIm@ri/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive primary

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. (usually before a noun) first.

   Primary education covers infant schooling from the ages of 5–7 or 8, then junior schooling concluding at the ages of 10 or 11.

   Most patients are managed in primary care but the vast majority of research publications derive from hospitals.

2. (usually before a noun) most important.

   The company had shops in buildings whose primary purpose was as office space.

3. (usually before a noun) most basic, simplest.

   The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.

Related words

• first
• main
• primarily
• primary care
• primary color/primary colour
• primary education
• primary school
• primary source
• principal
• secondary
• tertiary

Noun

Singular primary

Plural primaries

1. (countable) A primary is a kind of election held by a political party to choose the people it prefers for public office.

   Arlen Specter defeated Pat Toomey in the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate.

2. (countable) Primary means an elementary school.
3. Primary means the first grade in an elementary school.
4. (countable) Primary means a base, something that is irreducible.