primary
♦ pri|ma|ry /pr'aɪməri, AM -meri/ (primaries)
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use primary to describe something that is very important. (FORMAL)
That's the primary reason the company's share price has held up so well...
His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems...
= main
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Primary education is given to pupils between the ages of 5 and 11. (BRIT; in AM, use elementary)
Britain did not introduce compulsory primary education until 1880...
...primary teachers.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Primary is used to describe something that occurs first.
It is not the primary tumour that kills, but secondary growths elsewhere in the body...
4 [N-COUNT]
A primary or a primary election is an election in an American state in which people vote for someone to become a candidate for a political office. Compare general election.
...the 1968 New Hampshire primary...pri|ma|ry care
[N-UNCOUNT]
Primary care refers to those parts of the health service, such as general practitioners and hospital casualty departments, that deal with people who are in immediate need of medical care.
...the crucial roles of primary care and of preventive work.pri|ma|ry col|our (primary colours)
in AM, use primary color
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Primary colours are basic colours that can be mixed together to produce other colours. They are usually considered to be red, yellow, blue, and sometimes green.
It comes in bright primary colours that kids will love.pri|ma|ry school (primary schools)
[N-VAR] oft in names
A primary school is a school for children between the ages of 5 and 11. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use elementary school)
...eight-to nine-year-olds in their third year at primary school...
Greenside Primary School.
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use primary to describe something that is very important. (FORMAL)
That's the primary reason the company's share price has held up so well...
His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems...
= main
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Primary education is given to pupils between the ages of 5 and 11. (BRIT; in AM, use elementary)
Britain did not introduce compulsory primary education until 1880...
...primary teachers.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
Primary is used to describe something that occurs first.
It is not the primary tumour that kills, but secondary growths elsewhere in the body...
4 [N-COUNT]
A primary or a primary election is an election in an American state in which people vote for someone to become a candidate for a political office. Compare general election.
...the 1968 New Hampshire primary...pri|ma|ry care
[N-UNCOUNT]
Primary care refers to those parts of the health service, such as general practitioners and hospital casualty departments, that deal with people who are in immediate need of medical care.
...the crucial roles of primary care and of preventive work.pri|ma|ry col|our (primary colours)
in AM, use primary color
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Primary colours are basic colours that can be mixed together to produce other colours. They are usually considered to be red, yellow, blue, and sometimes green.
It comes in bright primary colours that kids will love.pri|ma|ry school (primary schools)
[N-VAR] oft in names
A primary school is a school for children between the ages of 5 and 11. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use elementary school)
...eight-to nine-year-olds in their third year at primary school...
Greenside Primary School.