The Meaning of prime

• (a.) First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.
• (a.) First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.
• (a.) First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
• (a.) Early; blooming; being in the first stage.
• (a.) Lecherous; lustful; lewd.
• (a.) Marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark.
• (n.) The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.
• (n.) The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.
• (n.) That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
• (a.) The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
• (a.) The first of the chief guards.
• (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.
• (a.) A prime number. See under Prime, a.
• (a.) An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [']. See 2d Inch, n., 1.
• (#) Donne (#) (pl. ) of Prima donna
• (a.) To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
• (a.) To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.
• (a.) To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.
• (a.) To trim or prune, as trees.
• (a.) To mark with a prime mark.
• (v. i.) To be renewed, or as at first.
• (v. i.) To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.
• (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.

Synonyms

prime quantity , flower , peak , heyday , bloom , blossom , efflorescence , flush , prime of life , ground , undercoat , premier , choice , prize , quality , select , meridian

Rhymes

anaheim , anticrime , anytime , bedtime , beim , blenheim , centime , chime , chyme , climb , clime , crime , daytime , dime , dinnertime , downtime , durkheim , enzyme , everytime , fulltime , genzyme , grime , guggenheim , haim , halftime , heim , hime , lifetime , lime , lunchtime , lyme , maritime , mealtime , meantime , mime , nighttime , noontime , onetime , oppenheim , overtime , pantomime , paradigm , part-time , parttime , pastime , peacetime , ragtime , rhyme , schooltime , seim , showtime , sime , slime , sometime , springtime , stime , sublime , summertime , syme , thyme , time , waldheim , wartime , wintertime