primitives

Noun

primitive (plural primitives)

1. An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.

   Synonyms:

   primitive word, radical, radical word

2. A member of a primitive society.
3. Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.
   • It may be that, living among primitive surroundings, the dormant primitive deep within the white man is drawn towards the absolute primitive in the aboriginal.1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 54
4. Natural or premodern environment or conditions; life lacking modern technology and society.
   • Out there in the primitive, white-man Rust had made his tools out of the primitive, as these stone-age people were making excellent string from the primitive.1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 113
5. A simple-minded person.
6. A data type that is built into the programming language, as opposed to more complex structures.

See all 17 meanings of primitive