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

1. A preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen
   "The political parties held primary elections to select their presidential candidates";
   - primary election
    
2. One of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing
   "The falcon's primary feathers were spread wide as it soared on the updraft";
   - primary feather, primary quill
    
3. (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it
   "The sun is the primary in our solar system"
    
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
   "She primaried the incumbent senator in her state"

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