primer

B2 Topic:Communication

US /ˈprɪmɚ/ UK /ˈpraɪmə/ See IPA manual

Freq #29864

Meanings

1

noun
a small introductory book, especially one used to teach children to read or to explain the basics of a subject

The pupils progressed from simple primers to longer works of literature.
2

noun
a preparatory coating applied before paint or another finish, usually pronounced with the vowel of prime

The decorator applied a stain-blocking primer before painting the wall.
3

noun
a device or substance used to initiate ignition, especially in ammunition or an engine

The firing pin struck the primer and ignited the cartridge.
4

noun
a short strand of nucleic acid that provides a starting point for DNA synthesis

The technician added a primer designed to bind to the target DNA sequence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a small introductory book,... introductory textbookhandbook manual

2 noun · a preparatory coating... undercoatpriming coat

3 noun · a device or substance used... igniterpriming charge

4 noun · a short strand of nucleic... oligonucleotide primer

Word family

Forms primers

Derived forms primerlesspriming

Related forms prime primary introductory

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

primer coat
the first preparatory layer applied before the main layers of paint

Noun + noun

Etymology

The book sense comes from Middle English primer, a layperson's prayer book, through Anglo-French from Medieval Latin primarium, 'primary manual.' The technical senses were formed later from the verb prime, 'prepare for use.' In American English the introductory-book sense traditionally has the short vowel in prim, while paint and ignition primers have the vowel in prime; British usage commonly has the latter vowel for both.

Topics

Communication

External links

# primer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈprɪmɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpraɪmə/
**Frequency rank:** 29864

## Meanings
1. a small introductory book, especially one used to teach children to read or to explain the basics of a subject
2. a preparatory coating applied before paint or another finish, usually pronounced with the vowel of prime
3. a device or substance used to initiate ignition, especially in ammunition or an engine
4. a short strand of nucleic acid that provides a starting point for DNA synthesis

## Examples
- The pupils progressed from simple primers to longer works of literature.
- The decorator applied a stain-blocking primer before painting the wall.
- The firing pin struck the primer and ignited the cartridge.
- The technician added a primer designed to bind to the target DNA sequence.

## Synonyms
- introductory textbook
- handbook
- manual
- undercoat
- igniter

## Derived Forms
- primerless
- priming

## Related Forms
- prime
- primary
- introductory

## Etymology
The book sense comes from Middle English primer, a layperson's prayer book, through Anglo-French from Medieval Latin primarium, 'primary manual.' The technical senses were formed later from the verb prime, 'prepare for use.' In American English the introductory-book sense traditionally has the short vowel in prim, while paint and ignition primers have the vowel in prime; British usage commonly has the latter vowel for both.

## Topics
- Communication

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