Primary

Primary
First or foremost in time or development. The primary teeth (the baby teeth) are those that come first. Primary may also refer to symptoms or a disease to which others are secondary. A primary tumor is one that is at the original site at which it arose. For example, a primary brain tumor is one that arose in the brain as opposed to one that arose elsewhere and metastasized (spread) to the brain. The original tumor is sometimes called "the primary."
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1. The first or foremost, as a disease or symptoms to which others may be secondary or occur as complications. 2. Relating to the first stage of growth or development. See primordial. [L. primarius, fr. primus, first]

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pri·ma·ry 'prī-.mer-ē, 'prīm-(ə-)rē adj
1 a ) (1) first in order of time or development (2) relating to or being the deciduous teeth and esp. the 20 deciduous teeth in the human set
b ) (1) arising spontaneously: IDIOPATHIC <\primary insomnia> <the absence of any pelvic abnormality confirmed the diagnosis of \primary dysmenorrhea> (2) being an initial tumor or site esp. of cancer <efforts to find the \primary tumor have failed (Raphael Feinmesser)>
c) providing primary care <a \primary physician>
2) not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes
3) belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications <\primary nerves>
4) of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins <\primary protein structure> compare SECONDARY (3), TERTIARY (2c)
5) resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule esp being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom
primary n, pl -ries PRIMARY COLOR

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pri·mary (priґmar-e) [L. primarius principal; primus first] first in order or in time of development; principal.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • 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. [1913 Webster] The church of Christ, in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primary — pri·ma·ry 1 / prī ˌmer ē, mə rē/ adj 1: of first rank, value, or importance 2: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications pri·mar·i·ly /prī mer ə lē/ adv primary 2 n pl …   Law dictionary

  • primary — primary, primal, primordial, primitive, pristine, primeval, prime mean first in some respect (as order, character, or importance). Something primary comes first in the order of development or of progression. Sometimes the term means little more… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Primary — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Primary» Sencillo de The Cure del álbum Faith Publicación 17 de marzo de 1981 (Reino Unido) Formato …   Wikipedia Español

  • primary — pri‧ma‧ry [ˈpraɪmri ǁ meri] adjective 1. main or most important: • Its primary business is developing and marketing new software. • The primary problem for the airlines is the recession. • It uses coal as its primary source of fuel. 2 …   Financial and business terms

  • primary — [prī′mer΄ē, prī′mə rē] adj. [ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see PRIME] 1. first in time or order of development; primitive; original; earliest 2. from which others are derived; fundamental; elemental; basic 3. designating colors… …   English World dictionary

  • Primary — Single par The Cure extrait de l’album Faith Face A Primary Face B Descent Sortie 17 mars 1981 Enregistrement …   Wikipédia en Français

  • primary — late 15c., of the first order, from L. primarius of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent, from primus first (see PRIME (Cf. prime) (adj.) ). Primary color is first recorded 1610s; primary school is 1802, from Fr. école primaire. The Paris… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Primary — Pri ma*ry, n.; pl. {Primaries}. 1. That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter. [1913 Webster] 2. A primary meeting; a caucus. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zo[ o]l.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird s wing.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • primary — / prime [adj1] best, principal capital, cardinal, chief, crackerjack*, dominant, excellent, fab*, first, first class*, greatest, heavy, highest, hot*, leading, main, number one*, paramount, primo*, state of the art*, stellar, top, top of the… …   New thesaurus

  • primary — primary/secondary qualities …   Philosophy dictionary

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