primary
1. pri.ma.ry \'pri--.mer-e-, 'pri-m-(*-)re-\ aj [LL primarius basic,
primary, fr. L, principal, fr. primus] 1a: first in order of time or
development : PRIMITIVE 1b: of or relating to formations of the Paleozoic
and earlier periods 2a: of first rank, importance, or value : PRINCIPAL
2b: BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL 2c: of, relating to, or constituting the principal
quills of a bird's wing 2d: of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and
the extractive industries or their products 2e: expressive of present or
future time {~ tense} 2f: of, relating to, of constituting the strongest
of the three or four de grees of stress recognized by most linguists {the
first syllable of basketball carries ~ stress} 3a: DIRECT, FIRSTHAND 3b:
not derivable from other colors {~ color} 3c: preparatory to something
else in a continuing process {~ schoo l} 3d: belonging to the first group
or order in successive divisions, combina tions, or ramifications {~
nerves} 3e: of, relating to, or constituting the inducing current or its
circuit i n an induction coil or transformer 4: resulting from the
substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups i n a molecule; esp :
being or characterized by a carbon atom united by a single valence to only
one chain or ring member
2. primary n [short for primary planet] 1: something that stands first in
rank, importance, or value : FUNDAME NTAL - usu. used in pl. 2: a planet as
distinguished from its satellites 3: one of the usu. 9 or 10 strong quills
on the distal joint of a bird's wi ng 4a: any of a set of colors from which
all other colors may be derived 4b: a primary-color sensation 5a: CAUCUS
5b: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference
for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office,
choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention