primary

/'praiməri/
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primary

The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • First or highest in rank, importance, or value; principal: Something that is "primary" is the most important or fundamental element in a situation.
    • Earliest in time or order of development; fundamental: This refers to something that is original, basic, or not derived from something else.
    • Relating to the education of children between the ages of about five and eleven: This describes the first stage of formal education.
  2. Noun:

    • A preliminary election to appoint delegates or select candidates for a principal election: This is a political event where voters choose their party's candidate for a later general election.
    • A primary color: In art and physics, this is one of a set of colors from which all other colors can be obtained by mixing.
    • A primary feather: In ornithology, this is one of the main flight feathers on a bird's wing.
    • The primary coil: In electricity, this is the coil in a transformer that receives the input current.
Examples
  • Adjective:

    • The primary goal of the project is to help the community. (The most important goal...)
    • Food and shelter are primary needs for survival. (The most basic, fundamental needs...)
    • She teaches at a primary school. (A school for young children in the first stage of education.)
  • Noun:

    • He won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire. (The preliminary election to select a candidate.)
    • Red, blue, and yellow are the primary colors. (The basic colors from which others are made.)
    • The bird's damaged primary feathers affected its ability to fly. (The main flight feathers.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Primary source": An original document, recording, or artifact created at the time under study.
    • Historians rely on primary sources like letters and diaries.
  • "Primary responsibility": The main or most important duty.
    • My primary responsibility is to ensure everyone's safety.
  • "Of primary importance": Being the most significant consideration.
    • In this negotiation, trust is of primary importance.
Variants and Related Words
  • Primarily (adverb): For the most part; mainly.
    • This book is primarily intended for students.
  • Primacy (noun): The state of being first in importance.
    • The primacy of the individual is a key principle.
Synonyms
  • Main: Most important.
  • Principal: First in order of importance.
  • Fundamental: Forming a necessary base or core.
  • Chief: Most important.
Antonyms
  • Secondary: Coming after, and less important than, something primary.
  • Minor: Lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance.
  • Derivative: Originating from, or based on, something else.
Related Phrases
  • Primary care: Basic or general health care provided by a doctor.
    • You should see your primary care physician for a check-up.
  • Primary industry: An industry involved in the extraction of natural resources, like farming or mining.
    • The country's economy was once based on primary industries.
primary

The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.

Adjective
  1. of primary importance
  2. of or being the essential or basic part
    • an elementary need for love and nurturing
  3. 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
  4. not derived from or reducible to something else; basic
    • a primary instinct
  5. of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary
    • primary goals
    • a primary effect
    • primary sources
    • a primary interest
Noun
  1. 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
  2. (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it
  3. one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing
  4. a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen