4 N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] If someone or something is in their prime , they are at the stage in their existence when they are at their strongest, most active, or most successful. □ She was in her intellectual prime. □ We've had a series of athletes trying to come back well past their prime. □ [+ of ] …young persons in the prime of life.
5 VERB If you prime someone to do something, you prepare them to do it, for example by giving them information about it beforehand. □ [V n] Claire wished she'd primed Sarah beforehand. □ [V n + for ] Arnold primed her for her duties. □ [be V -ed to-inf] The press corps was primed to leap to the defense of the fired officials.
6 to prime the pump → see pump
Prime Mi n|is|ter ◆◆◆ (Prime Ministers ) N‑COUNT The leader of the government in some countries is called the Prime Minister . □ [+ of ] …the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Miss Benazir Bhutto.
pri me mo v|er (prime movers ) N‑COUNT The prime mover behind a plan, idea, or situation is someone who has an important influence in starting it. □ [+ behind/in ] He was the prime mover behind the coup.
pri me nu m|ber (prime numbers ) N‑COUNT In mathematics, a prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that cannot be divided exactly by any whole number except itself and the number 1, for example 17.
pri|mer /pra I mə r / (primers ) N‑VAR Primer is a type of paint that is put onto wood in order to prepare it for the main layer of paint. □ Once applied the primer will be touch dry in one hour.
pri me rate (prime rates ) N‑COUNT A bank's prime rate is the lowest rate of interest which it charges at a particular time and which is offered only to certain customers. [BUSINESS ] □ At least one bank cut its prime rate today.
pri me time also primetime N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Prime time television or radio programmes are broadcast when the greatest number of people are watching television or listening to the radio, usually in the evenings. □ …a primetime television show. □ …prime time viewing in mid-evening.
pri|meval /pra I miː v ə l/ in BRIT, also use primaeval 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use primeval to describe things that belong to a very early period in the history of the world. [FORMAL ] □ …the dense primeval forests that once covered inland Brittany.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use primeval to describe feelings and emotions that are basic and not the result of thought. □ …a primeval urge to hit out at that which causes him pain.
primi|tive /pr I m I t I v/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Primitive means belonging to a society in which people live in a very simple way, usually without industries or a writing system. □ …studies of primitive societies.
2 ADJ Primitive means belonging to a very early period in the development of an animal or plant. □ …primitive whales. □ It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.
3 ADJ If you describe something as primitive , you mean that it is very simple in style or very old-fashioned. □ It's using some rather primitive technology.
pri|mor|dial /pra I mɔː r diəl/ ADJ You use primordial to describe things that belong to a very early time in the history of the world. [FORMAL ] □ Twenty million years ago, Idaho was populated by dense primordial forest.
prim|rose /pr I mroʊz/ (primroses ) N‑VAR A primrose is a wild plant which has pale yellow flowers in the spring.
primu|la /pr I mjʊlə/ (primulas ) N‑VAR A primula is a plant that has brightly coloured flowers in the spring.
Pri|mus /pra I məs/ N‑SING A Primus or a Primus stove is a small cooker or stove that burns paraffin and is often used in camping. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ]
prince ◆◆◇ /pr I ns/ (princes )
1 N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT A prince is a male member of a royal family, especially the son of the king or queen of a country. □ …Prince Edward and other royal guests. □ The Prince won warm applause for his ideas.
2 N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT A prince is the male royal ruler of a small country or state. □ He was speaking without the prince's authority.
Pri nce Cha rm|ing N‑SING A woman's Prince Charming is a man who seems to her to be a perfect lover or boyfriend, because he is attractive, kind, and considerate. [APPROVAL ] □ To begin with he was Prince Charming.
prince|ly /pr I nsli/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A princely sum of money is a large sum of money. □ It'll cost them the princely sum of seventy-five pounds.
prin|cess ◆◆◇ /pr I nse s, [AM ] -səs/ (princesses ) N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT A princess is a female member of a royal family, usually the daughter of a king or queen or the wife of a prince. □ Princess Anne topped the guest list. □ …Caroline Lindon, Princess of Monaco.
prin|ci|pal ◆◇◇ /pr I ns I p ə l/ (principals )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Principal means first in order of importance. □ The principal reason for my change of mind is this. □ …the country's principal source of foreign exchange earnings. □ Their principal concern is bound to be that of winning the next general election.
2 N‑COUNT The principal of a school, or in Britain the principal of a college, is the person in charge of the school or college. □ [+ of ] Donald King is the principal of Dartmouth High School. SYNONYMS principal ADJ 1
main: My main concern now is to protect the children.
leading: Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.