1. First in rank or degree
   "the prime minister";
   - premier
    
2. Being at the best stage of development
   "our manhood's prime vigour";
   - meridian
    
3. Of superior grade
   "prime beef";
   - choice, prize, quality, select
    
4. Used of the first or originating agent
   "prime mover"
    
5. (mathematics) of or relating to or being an integer that cannot be factored into other integers
   "prime number"

1. The time of maturity when power and vigour are greatest
   "At 40, she felt she was in the prime of life";
   - prime of life
    
2. The period of greatest prosperity or productivity
   "The 1920s were the prime of jazz music in America";
   - flower, peak, heyday, bloom, blossom, efflorescence, flush
    
3. A natural number that has exactly two distinct natural number divisors: 1 and itself
   "7 is a prime quantity";
   - prime quantity
    
4. The second canonical hour; about 6 a.m.
   "The bells rang for prime as the sun rose"

1. Cover with a primer; apply a primer to
   "They primed the walls before applying the final paint colour";
   - ground, undercoat
    
2. Insert a primer into (a gun, mine, or charge) preparatory to detonation or firing
   "prime a cannon"; "prime a mine"
    
3. Fill with priming liquid
   "prime a car engine"

Derived forms: primed, priming, primes

See also: 1st, first, mature, superior

Type of: adulthood, canonical hour, fill, fill up, fix, gear up, maturity, number, paint, period, period of time, prepare, ready, set, set up, time period, time span

Encyclopedia: Prime, Thomas