Definition of prime

• # - Donne (#) (pl. ) of Prima donna
• a. - First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.
• a. - First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.
• a. - First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
• a. - Early; blooming; being in the first stage.
• a. - Lecherous; lustful; lewd.
• a. - Marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark.
• n. - The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.
• n. - The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.
• n. - That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
• a. - The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
• a. - The first of the chief guards.
• a. - Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; -- so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1.
• a. - A prime number. See under Prime, a.
• a. - An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [']. See 2d Inch, n., 1.
• a. - To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
• a. - To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
• a. - To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.
• a. - To trim or prune, as trees.
• a. - To mark with a prime mark.
• v. i. - To be renewed, or as at first.
• v. i. - To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.
• v. i. - To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; -- said of a steam boiler.