3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Primary  \Pri"ma*ry\,  a.  [L.  primarius,  fr  primus  first:  cf  F. 
  primaire.  See  {Prime},  a.,  and  cf  {Premier},  {Primero}.] 
  1.  First  in  order  of  time  or  development  or  in  intention; 
  primitive;  fundamental;  original. 
 
  The  church  of  Christ,  in  its  primary  institution. 
  --Bp.  Pearson. 
 
  These  I  call  original,  or  primary,  qualities  of 
  body.  --Locke. 
 
  2.  First  in  order  as  being  preparatory  to  something  higher; 
  as  primary  assemblies;  primary  schools. 
 
  3.  First  in  dignity  or  importance;  chief;  principal;  as 
  primary  planets;  a  matter  of  primary  importance. 
 
  4.  (Geol.)  Earliest  formed;  fundamental. 
 
  5.  (Chem.)  Illustrating,  possessing,  or  characterized  by 
  some  quality  or  property  in  the  first  degree;  having 
  undergone  the  first  stage  of  substitution  or  replacement. 
 
  {Primary  alcohol}  (Organic  Chem.),  any  alcohol  which  possess 
  the  group  {CH2.OH},  and  can  be  oxidized  so  as  to  form  a 
  corresponding  aldehyde  and  acid  having  the  same  number  of 
  carbon  atoms;  --  distinguished  from  {secondary  &  tertiary 
  alcohols}. 
 
  {Primary  amine}  (Chem.),  an  amine  containing  the  amido  group 
  or  a  derivative  of  ammonia  in  which  only  one  atom  of 
  hydrogen  has  been  replaced  by  a  basic  radical;  -- 
  distinguished  from  {secondary  &  tertiary  amines}. 
 
  {Primary  amputation}  (Surg.),  an  amputation  for  injury 
  performed  as  soon  as  the  shock  due  to  the  injury  has 
  passed  away  and  before  symptoms  of  inflammation 
  supervene. 
 
  {Primary  axis}  (Bot.),  the  main  stalk  which  bears  a  whole 
  cluster  of  flowers. 
 
  {Primary  colors}.  See  under  {Color}. 
 
  {Primary  meeting},  a  meeting  of  citizens  at  which  the  first 
  steps  are  taken  towards  the  nomination  of  candidates,  etc 
  See  {Caucus}. 
 
  {Primary  pinna}  (Bot.),  one  of  those  portions  of  a  compound 
  leaf  or  frond  which  branch  off  directly  from  the  main 
  rhachis  or  stem,  whether  simple  or  compounded. 
 
  {Primary  planets}.  (Astron.)  See  the  Note  under  {Planet}. 
 
  {Primary  qualities  of  bodies},  such  are  essential  to  and 
  inseparable  from  them 
 
  {Primary  quills}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  largest  feathers  of  the  wing 
  of  a  bird;  primaries. 
 
  {Primary  rocks}  (Geol.),  a  term  early  used  for  rocks  supposed 
  to  have  been  first  formed,  being  crystalline  and 
  containing  no  organic  remains,  as  granite,  gneiss,  etc.; 
  --  called  also  {primitive  rocks}.  The  terms  Secondary, 
  Tertiary,  and  Quaternary  rocks  have  also  been  used  in  like 
  manner,  but  of  these  the  last  two  only  are  now  in  use 
 
  {Primary  salt}  (Chem.),  a  salt  derived  from  a  polybasic  acid 
  in  which  only  one  acid  hydrogen  atom  has  been  replaced  by 
  a  base  or  basic  radical. 
 
  {Primary  syphilis}  (Med.),  the  initial  stage  of  syphilis, 
  including  the  period  from  the  development  of  the  original 
  lesion  or  chancre  to  the  first  manifestation  of  symptoms 
  indicative  of  general  constitutional  infection. 
 
  {Primary  union}  (Surg.),  union  without  suppuration;  union  by 
  the  first  intention. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Primary  \Pri"ma*ry\,  n.;  pl  {Primaries}. 
  1.  That  which  stands  first  in  order  rank,  or  importance;  a 
  chief  matter. 
 
  2.  A  primary  meeting;  a  caucus. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.)  One  of  the  large  feathers  on  the  distal  joint 
  of  a  bird's  wing.  See  {Plumage},  and  Illust.  of  {Bird}. 
 
  4.  (Astron.)  A  primary  planet;  the  brighter  component  of  a 
  double  star.  See  under  {Planet}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  primary 
  adj  1:  of  first  rank  or  importance  or  value;  direct  and  immediate 
  rather  than  secondhand;  "primary  goals";  "a  primary 
  effect";  "primary  sources";  "a  primary  interest"  [ant: 
  {secondary}] 
  2:  not  derived  from  or  reducible  to  something  else;  basic;  "a 
  primary  instinct";  "seeks  excellence  at  its  primitive 
  source--nature"-  John  Dewey  [syn:  {primitive}] 
  3:  most  important  element;  "the  chief  aim  of  living";  "the  main 
  doors  were  of  solid  glass";  "the  principal  rivers  of 
  America";  "the  principal  example";  "policemen  were  primary 
  targets"  [syn:  {chief(a)},  {main(a)},  {primary(a)},  {principal(a)}] 
  4:  of  elementary  education;  "a  basal  reader";  "children  in  the 
  beginning  reading  classes";  "the  primary  grades"  [syn:  {abecedarian}, 
  {basal},  {basic},  {beginning(a)}] 
  5:  of  or  being  the  essential  or  basic  part  "an  elementary  need 
  for  love  and  nurturing"  [syn:  {elementary}] 
  6:  of  primary  importance;  "basic  truths"  [syn:  {basal},  {basic}] 
  n  1:  a  preliminary  election  where  delegates  or  nominees  are 
  chosen  [syn:  {primary  election}] 
  2:  one  of  the  main  flight  feathers  projecting  along  the  outer 
  edge  of  a  bird's  wing  [syn:  {primary  feather},  {primary 
  quill}] 
  3:  current  through  primary  coil  induces  current  in  secondary 
  coil  [syn:  {primary  coil},  {primary  winding}] 

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