primary (adj.)

  1. of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary; primary goals; a primary effect; primary sources; a primary interest'

    primary (n.)

  1. a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen

    [ Syn: primary election ]

  2. one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a birds wing

    [ Syn: primary feather , primary quill ]

  3. (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it

  4. coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit; current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil

    [ Syn: primary coil , primary winding ]

    primary (adj.)

  1. not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; a primary instinct'

  2. most important element; the chief aim of living; the main doors were of solid glass; the principal rivers of America; the principal example; policemen were primary targets; the master bedroom; a master switch

    [ Syn: chief , main , principal , master ]

  3. of or being the essential or basic part; an elementary need for love and nurturing

    [ Syn: elementary , elemental ]

  4. of primary importance

    [ Syn: basal ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.