Result from Foreign Dictionaries (3 entries found)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Primary \Pri"ma*ry\, a. [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See {Prime}, a., and cf. {Premier}, {Primero}.] 1. First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original. [1913 Webster] The church of Christ, in its primary institution. --Bp. Pearson. [1913 Webster] These I call original, or primary, qualities of body. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. First in order, as being preparatory to something higher; as, primary assemblies; primary schools. [1913 Webster] 3. First in dignity or importance; chief; principal; as, primary planets; a matter of primary importance. [1913 Webster] 4. (Geol.) Earliest formed; fundamental. [1913 Webster] 5. (Chem.) Illustrating, possessing, or characterized by, some quality or property in the first degree; having undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement. [1913 Webster] {Primary alcohol} (Organic Chem.), any alcohol which possess the group {CH2.OH}, and can be oxidized so as to form a corresponding aldehyde and acid having the same number of carbon atoms; -- distinguished from {secondary & tertiary alcohols}. {Primary amine} (Chem.), an amine containing the amido group, or a derivative of ammonia in which only one atom of hydrogen has been replaced by a basic radical; -- distinguished from {secondary & tertiary amines}. {Primary amputation} (Surg.), an amputation for injury performed as soon as the shock due to the injury has passed away, and before symptoms of inflammation supervene. {Primary axis} (Bot.), the main stalk which bears a whole cluster of flowers. {Primary colors}. See under {Color}. {Primary meeting}, a meeting of citizens at which the first steps are taken towards the nomination of candidates, etc. See {Caucus}. {Primary pinna} (Bot.), one of those portions of a compound leaf or frond which branch off directly from the main rhachis or stem, whether simple or compounded. {Primary planets}. (Astron.) See the Note under {Planet}. {Primary qualities of bodies}, such are essential to and inseparable from them. {Primary quills} (Zool.), the largest feathers of the wing of a bird; primaries. {Primary rocks} (Geol.), a term early used for rocks supposed to have been first formed, being crystalline and containing no organic remains, as granite, gneiss, etc.; -- called also {primitive rocks}. The terms Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary rocks have also been used in like manner, but of these the last two only are now in use. {Primary salt} (Chem.), a salt derived from a polybasic acid in which only one acid hydrogen atom has been replaced by a base or basic radical. {Primary syphilis} (Med.), the initial stage of syphilis, including the period from the development of the original lesion or chancre to the first manifestation of symptoms indicative of general constitutional infection. {Primary union} (Surg.), union without suppuration; union by the first intention. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Primary \Pri"ma*ry\, n.; pl. {Primaries}. 1. That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter. [1913 Webster] 2. A primary meeting; a caucus. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zool.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing. See {Plumage}, and Illust. of {Bird}. [1913 Webster] 4. (Astron.) A primary planet; the brighter component of a double star. See under {Planet}. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: 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" [ant: {secondary}] 2: not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; "a primary instinct" 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" [syn: {chief(a)}, {main(a)}, {primary(a)}, {principal(a)}, {master(a)}] 4: of or being the essential or basic part; "an elementary need for love and nurturing" [syn: {elementary}, {elemental}, {primary}] 5: of primary importance [syn: {basal}, {primary}] n 1: a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen [syn: {primary}, {primary election}] 2: one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing [syn: {primary}, {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}]