Primary Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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primary
[หpraษชmษri ]
Definitions
Context #1 | Adjective
school
Of chief importance; principal.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The primary goal of the project is to increase revenue.
- Her primary responsibility is to manage the team.
Context #2 | Noun
education
A preliminary election to select a political candidate.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She won the primary and will now run in the general election.
Context #3 | Noun
color
A primary color such as red, blue, or yellow.
Synonyms
basic, fundamental, principal.
Examples of usage
- Mixing primary colors can create a wide range of other colors.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Education
- In educational contexts, primary refers to the first years of a child's schooling, typically including kindergarten through grade 5.
- Primary education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and is important for developing basic literacy and numeracy skills.
- Many countries have adopted a universal primary education policy to ensure all children have access to basic education.
Color Theory
- In color theory, primary colors are the building blocks for creating all other colors: red, blue, and yellow.
- Mixing primary colors can create secondary colors, which are green, orange, and purple.
- Artists often emphasize primary colors in their works because of their vibrant impact and versatility.
Politics
- In politics, a primary election is a process where party members select candidates for the general election.
- Primaries can be open or closed; in open primaries, any registered voter can participate, while in closed primaries, only registered party members can vote.
- Super Tuesday is a significant day in U.S. politics when a large number of states hold primary elections, influencing the nomination process.
Science
- In biology, 'primary' can refer to structure layers, such as primary tissues in plants that form the initial growth.
- The primary structure of a protein is its unique sequence of amino acids, which determines its shape and function.
- In ecology, primary producers are organisms like plants and algae that create energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.
Origin of 'primary'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'primarius', which means 'of the first rank'.
- In the 14th century, it was used in English to denote something that was principal or original.
- The root 'prim' is also found in other words like 'primitive' and 'prime', which share a similar meaning of 'first' or 'early'.
The word 'primary' originated from the Latin word 'primarius', meaning 'of the first rank' or 'chief'. It has been used in English since the 15th century, originally referring to something of chief importance or primary importance. Over time, its usage expanded to various fields such as education, politics, and colors.