WordWeb Online

1. Of first rank, importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary
   "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest"
    
2. Not derived from or reducible to something else; basic
   "a primary instinct"
    
3. Most important element
   "policemen were primary targets";
   - chief, main, principal, master
    
4. Of or being the essential or basic part
   - elementary, elemental, basal

1. A preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen
   - primary election
    
2. One of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing
   - 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 neighbouring circuit
   "current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil";
   - primary coil, primary winding

1. Take part in or win a primary election

Derived forms: primaried, primaries, primarying

See also: 1st, basic, capital, direct, essential, first, firsthand, first-string, important, of import, original, particular, special, underived

Type of: celestial body, coil, election, flight feather, heavenly body, pinion, poll, quill, quill feather

Antonym: secondary

Part of: transformer

Encyclopedia: Primary, secondary, and tertiary education