PRIME

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does prime mean? 

• PRIME (noun)
  The noun PRIME has 4 senses:

1. a natural number that has exactly two distinct natural number divisors: 1 and itself

2. the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

3. the second canonical hour; about 6 a.m.

4. the time of maturity when power and vigor are greatest

  Familiarity information: PRIME used as a noun is uncommon.

• PRIME (adjective)
  The adjective PRIME has 5 senses:

1. first in rank or degree

2. used of the first or originating agent

3. of superior grade

4. of or relating to or being an integer that cannot be factored into other integers

5. being at the best stage of development

  Familiarity information: PRIME used as an adjective is common.

• PRIME (verb)
  The verb PRIME has 3 senses:

1. insert a primer into (a gun, mine, or charge) preparatory to detonation or firing

2. cover with a primer; apply a primer to

3. fill with priming liquid

  Familiarity information: PRIME used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRIME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A natural number that has exactly two distinct natural number divisors: 1 and itself

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

prime; prime quantity

Hypernyms ("prime" is a kind of...):

number (a concept of quantity involving zero and units)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prime"):

prime number (an integer that has no integral factors but itself and 1)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The period of greatest prosperity or productivity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

bloom; blossom; efflorescence; flower; flush; heyday; peak; prime

Hypernyms ("prime" is a kind of...):

period; period of time; time period (an amount of time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prime"):

golden age (a time period when some activity or skill was at its peak)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The second canonical hour; about 6 a.m.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Hypernyms ("prime" is a kind of...):

canonical hour ((Roman Catholic Church) one of seven specified times for prayer)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The time of maturity when power and vigor are greatest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

prime; prime of life

Hypernyms ("prime" is a kind of...):

adulthood; maturity (the period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed)

• PRIME (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

First in rank or degree

Synonyms:

premier; prime

Context example:

the prime minister

Similar:

first (preceding all others in time or space or degree)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Used of the first or originating agent

Context example:

prime mover

Similar:

first (preceding all others in time or space or degree)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of superior grade

Synonyms:

choice; prime; prize; quality; select

Context example:

select peaches

Similar:

superior (of high or superior quality or performance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of or relating to or being an integer that cannot be factored into other integers

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

prime number

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Pertainym:

prime number (an integer that has no integral factors but itself and 1)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Being at the best stage of development

Synonyms:

meridian; prime

Context example:

our manhood's prime vigor

Similar:

mature (having reached full natural growth or development)

• PRIME (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they prime    ... he / she / it primes   
Past simple: primed   
Past participle: primed   
-ing form: priming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Insert a primer into (a gun, mine, or charge) preparatory to detonation or firing

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

prime a mine

Hypernyms (to "prime" is one way to...):

fix; gear up; prepare; ready; set; set up (make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

primer (any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cover with a primer; apply a primer to

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

ground; prime; undercoat

Hypernyms (to "prime" is one way to...):

paint (apply paint to; coat with paint)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They want to prime the doors

Derivation:

primer (the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Fill with priming liquid

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

prime a car engine

Hypernyms (to "prime" is one way to...):

fill; fill up; make full (make full, also in a metaphorical sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Nearby pulsars like Geminga were prime suspects.

(NASA’s Fermi Mission Links Nearby Pulsar’s Gamma-ray ‘Halo’ to Antimatter Puzzle, NASA)

This means that the tropical region primed for creating OH will potentially increase over time, leading to a higher amount of OH in the atmosphere.

(Greenhouse Gas ‘Detergent’ Recycles Itself in Atmosphere, NASA)

A preparation of non-interleukin-2 primed, tumor activated allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells with potential immunostimulating activity.

(CNDO-109-activated Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

DNA excision repair protein ERCC-1, encoded by the ERCC1 gene, is a structure-specific DNA repair endonuclease responsible for the 5-prime incision during DNA repair.

(DNA Excision Repair Protein ERCC-1, NCI Thesaurus)

Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) primed with a recombinant form of the human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim).

(Filgrastim-primed Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

A single-stranded DNA-dependent RNA polymerase that functions to initiate, or prime, DNA synthesis by synthesizing a nucleotide RNA polymer.

(DNA Primase, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Different CCCH zinc finger proteins interact with the 3-prime UTR of various mRNA.

(C3H1 Zinc Finger, NCI Thesaurus)

Ross 128 b will be a prime target for ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope, which will be able to search for biomarkers in the planet's atmosphere.

(Closest Temperate World Orbiting Quiet Star Discovered, ESO)

The team discovered that a group of microbes called Psychrobacter appears to be the prime driver of the cycle.

(Bacteria living near coral reefs change in synchrony across distances, National Science Foundation)

There are at least 2 additional exons encoding the 5-prime untranslated region.

(BCSC-1, NCI Thesaurus)