primer
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primer¹
- /ˈpɹaɪ.mə/ UK
- /ˈpɹɪm.əɹ/ US
- /ˈpɹaɪməɹ/
Sounds like primmer · Rhymes with -aɪmə(ɹ), -ɪmə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English primer, primere, from Medieval Latin primarius and primarium (“prayer book”) possibly via Anglo-Norman primer (“prayer book”), from prima (“prime the liturgical hour and office”) + -arius and -arium (suffix forming related objects). Its use for schoolbooks derived from the late medieval and early modern use of such prayer books to teach reading.
noun primers
-
A prayer or devotional book intended for laity, initially an abridgment of the breviary and manual including the hours of the Virgin Mary, 15 gradual and 7 penitential psalms, the litany, the placebo and dirige forming the office of the dead, and the commendations.
Similar: book of hours, prayer book
- Any of various similar works issued in England for private prayer in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.
- A children's book intended to teach literacy: how to read, write, and spell. Four-year-old Elizabeth Finkle-McGraw would receive the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer from her grandfather. Fiona Hackworth would be getting a copy of the Illustrated Primer too, for this had been John Percival Hackworth's crime: He had programmed the matter compiler to place the cockleburs on the
- An introductory text on any subject, particularly basic concepts. [...] The two assets of the book are clear explanation, and a multitude of extremely helpful diagrams, some in two colours, and cutaway photographs; these clearly unravel a difficult subject for the layman, as well as the student engineman for whom the primer is chiefly designed.
- An elementary school class; an elementary school student.
primer²
- /ˈpɹaɪ.mə(ɹ)/ UK
- /ˈpɹaɪmɚ/ US
Rhymes with -aɪmə(ɹ)
noun primers
- Any substance or device, such as priming wire or blasting cap, used to ignite gunpowder or other explosive. The percussion primer, known as the “ 110-grain percussion primer,” contains an igniting charge of 95 grains of black powder in addition to the essential elements of a percussion primer.
- A person who primes explosives.
- A substance used to prime wood, metal, etc. in preparation for painting.
- A layer of such a substance.
- A layer of makeup that goes beneath the foundation; undermakeup. The undermakeup (primer) should be allowed to dry-set for 30 seconds. Apply foundation over the primer with a sponge using light, careful strokes to blend. Undermakeups come in cream form, sponge-on wands, or sponge-on cream, and as a lotion.
- A person who primes wood, metal, etc.
- A molecule which initiates the synthesis of an enzyme, (especially) a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule which initiates DNA replication.
- A pheromone which interacts first with the endocrine system.
- A device used to prime an internal combustion engine with gasoline, (especially) in airplanes.
- A person who prunes trees.
primer³
Where it comes from
From Anglo-Norman primer (“first”), from Latin prīmārius (“first”).
adjective
- First in time, initial, early. the primer English kings
- First in importance, premier.
- First in position, foremost.
Primer⁴
Where it comes from
Unexplained.
proper noun Primers
- A surname.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: ground, fuse, fuze, fuzee, fusee, undercoat, flat coat, priming coat, example, originator, elementary, proponent, prime, first, handbook, manual
Translations
Every language
noun introductory textbook
| Español | abecé, cartilla, introducción |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 입문서 immunseo |
| 日本語 | 入門書 nyūmonsho, 初等読本 shotō dokuhon |
| 中文 | 識字課本 /识字课本 shìzì kèběn, 入門書 /入门书 rùménshū |
| Português | cartilha, abecedário |
| Français | abc, abécédaire |
| Deutsch | ABC-Buch, Abecedarium, Abecedar |
| Italiano | testo elementare, m |
| Ελληνικά | αλφαβητάριο alfavitário |
| Română | abecedar |
| Русский | буква́рь bukvárʹ, а́збука ázbuka, абецеда́рий abɛcedárij |
| Tiếng Việt | sách học vấn |
| العربية | كِتَاب تَمْهِيدِيّ kitāb tamhīdiyy |
noun children's book introducing basic literacy
| Español | cartilla, abecé, silabario |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 識字課本 /识字课本 shìzì kèběn |
| हिन्दी | वर्ण-माला की पुस्तक varṇ-mālā kī pustak, प्राइमर prāimar |
| Português | cartilha |
| Français | abécédaire, abc |
| Deutsch | Fibel, Abecedarium, ABC-Buch |
| Italiano | sillabario, abbecedario |
| Ελληνικά | αλφαβητάριο alfavitário, αλφαβητάρι alfavitári |
| Română | abecedar |
| Русский | буква́рь bukvárʹ, а́збука ázbuka |
| Tiếng Việt | sách vỡ lòng, sách học vấn |
| עברית | אַלְפוֹן, סֵפֶר אָלֶפְבֵּית |
noun substance used to ignite a fire
| 日本語 | 点火剤 tenkazai, 起爆剤 kibakuzai |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 底火 dǐhuǒ |
| Français | amorce |
| Italiano | innesco |
| Русский | запа́л zapál |
noun small charge used to ignite gunpowder or other explosive
| 日本語 | 雷管 raikan |
|---|---|
| Português | espoleta |
| Français | amorce |
| Deutsch | Zündkapsel |
| Italiano | innesco |
| Ελληνικά | θρυαλλίδα thryallída, καψύλλιο kapsýllio |
| Русский | запа́л zapál, ка́псюль kápsjulʹ |
noun layer of cosmetic substance
| Português | primer |
|---|
noun layer of priming substance
| 日本語 | 砥の粉 tonoko, 砥粉 tonoko, 目止め medome, 目止 medome, 地塗り ji-nuri, 地塗 ji-nuri |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 底漆 dǐqī |
| Français | sous-couche |
| Deutsch | Grundierung |
| Italiano | vernice di fondo, mestica |
| Ελληνικά | αστάρι astári, επίχρισμα epíchrisma |
| Русский | грунт grunt, грунто́вка gruntóvka |
noun substance used to prime wood, metal, etc.
| Deutsch | Grundierung |
|---|---|
| Русский | грунто́вка gruntóvka |
Talk about this word "primer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/primer. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. primer. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/primer "primer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/primer.Cite this
@misc{primer_2026,
title = {primer},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/primer},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
