(1):
(a.) First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.
(2):
(a.) First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
(3):
(a.) Early; blooming; being in the first stage.
(4):
(a.) Lecherous; lustful; lewd.
(5):
(a.) First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.
(6):
(a.) Marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark.
(7):
(n.) The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.
(8):
(n.) The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.
(9):
(n.) That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
(10):
(a.) The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
(11):
(a.) The first of the chief guards.
(12):
(a.) Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; - so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1.
(13):
(a.) A prime number. See under Prime, a.
(14):
(a.) An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; - denoted by [']. See 2d Inch, n., 1.
(15):
(a.) To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
(16):
(a.) To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
(17):
(a.) To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.
(18):
(a.) To trim or prune, as trees.
(19):
(a.) To mark with a prime mark.
(20):
(v. i.) To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.
(21):
(v. i.) To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; - said of a steam boiler.
(22):
(a.) Having no common factor; - used with to; as, 12 is prime to 25.
(23):
(a.) Divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number.
(24):
(v. i.) To be renewed, or as at first.