Prime | Mean of prime in English Dictionary

/ˈpraɪm/

• most important
1. our prime responsibility
2. The wine industry is of prime importance to the California economy.
3. The police have not yet named the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
• of the highest quality or value
1. prime beef
2. The house is expensive because it's in a prime location.
3. prime farmland
• most likely or very likely to be chosen for something, to experience something, etc.
1. The mayor has become a prime target for criticism.
2. Her father was unhealthy and looked like a prime candidate for a heart attack. [=he looked like someone who was likely to have a heart attack]
• Noun

• the period in life when a person is best in health, strength, etc.
1. young college graduates in the prime of life
2. She just retired, but she's still in her prime. [=still active and in good health]
3. He was a great pitcher once, but he's past his prime. [=is no longer as good as he was when he was younger]
• Verb
• to make (someone) ready to do something
1. She was obviously primed for the questions at the press conference.
2. Both teams are primed for battle and ready to play.
• to make (something) ready for use
1. prime a bomb/gun
2. prime a pump
3. prime an engine
• to cover (a surface) with special paint in order to prepare it for the final layer of paint
1. We sanded and primed the woodwork before painting.
• to do something that will help a thing to grow or develop
1. The government has to prime the pump to get the economy going.
2. That sort of language will only prime the pump for an ugly argument later.