primer

Noun (1)

primer (plural primers)

1. (historical) 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.

   Synonyms:

   book of hours, prayer book

2. (historical) Any of various similar works issued in England for private prayer in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.
3. 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...1995, Neal Stephenson, The Diamond Age […] , New York: Bantam Spectra, →ISBN
4. 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.1959 March, “New Reading on Railways: The Railwayman's Diesel Manual. By William F. Bolton. G. H. Lake. 7s. 6d.”, in Trains Illustrated, page 172
5. (New Zealand, obsolete) An elementary school class; an elementary school student.

Noun (2)

UK/ˈpɹaɪ.mə(ɹ)/US/ˈpɹaɪmɚ/

primer (countable and uncountable, plural primers)

1. 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.1912, United States Army Ordnance Dept, Handbook of the 2.95-inch mountain gun mate/riel and pack outfit, →ISBN, page 17
   • Therefore, the shotgun primer is quite self- contained. It consists of a separate metal cup called a battery cup that contains the primer itself. That's why it is considered a two-piece primer.2003, Sam Fadala, The Gun Digest Blackpowder Loading Manual, →ISBN, page 73
2. (obsolete) A person who primes explosives.
3. A substance used to prime wood, metal, etc. in preparation for painting.
4. A layer of such a substance.
5. 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.1989, Stan Place, Bobbi Ray Madry, The Art and Science of Professional Makeup, →ISBN, page 95
6. (obsolete) A person who primes wood, metal, etc.
7. A molecule which initiates the synthesis of an enzyme, (especially) a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule which initiates DNA replication.
8. A pheromone which interacts first with the endocrine system.
9. A device used to prime an internal combustion engine with gasoline, (especially) in airplanes.
10. A person who prunes trees.

Adjective

primer (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) First in time, initial, early.
   • the primer English kings1612, Michael Drayton, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned...
2. (obsolete) First in importance, premier.
3. (obsolete, rare) First in position, foremost.

Proper noun capitalized: Primer

Primer (plural Primers)

1. A surname.