prime

I 1. adjective

1)

his prime reason for leaving

Syn:

main, chief, key, primary, central, principal, foremost, first, most important, paramount, major; informal number-one

Ant:

secondary, subordinate

2)

the prime cause of flooding

Syn:

fundamental, basic, essential, primary, central

Ant:

secondary

3)

prime agricultural land

Syn:

top-quality, top, best, first-class, first-rate, grade A, superior, supreme, choice, select, finest; excellent, superb, fine; informal tip-top, A1, top-notch, blue-ribbon

Ant:

inferior

4)

a prime example

Syn:

archetypal, prototypical, typical, classic, excellent, characteristic, quintessential

2. noun

he is in his prime

Syn:

heyday, best days, best years, prime of one's life; youth, salad days; peak, pinnacle, zenith

II verb

1)

he primed the gun

Syn:

prepare, load, get ready

2)

Lucy had primed him carefully

Syn:

brief, fill in, prepare, put in the picture, inform, advise, instruct, coach, drill; informal clue in, give someone the lowdown