prime

Universal Words adjective, noun, verb adjective [onlybeforenoun] 1 main; most important; basic SYNPRIMARY: My prime concern is to protect my property. * Winning is not the prime objective in this sport. * The care of the environment is of prime importance. * He's the police's prime suspect in this case. 2 of the best quality; excellent: prime (cuts of) beef * The store has a prime position in the mall. 3 a prime example of sth is one that is typical of it: The building is a prime example of 1960s architecture. 4 most likely to be chosen for sth; most suitable: The house is isolated and a prime target for burglars. * He's a prime candidate to captain the team this season. noun [sing.] the time in your life when you are strongest or most successful: a young woman in her prime * He was barely 30 and in the prime of (his) life. * These flowers are long past their prime. verb 1 ~ sb (for / with sth) to prepare sb for a situation so that they know what to do, especially by giving them special information SYNBRIEF: [VN] They had been primed with good advice. * She was ready and primed for action. * [VNtoinf] He had primed his friends to give the journalists as little information as possible. 2 [VN] to make sth ready for use or action: The bomb was primed, ready to explode. 3 [VN] to prepare wood, metal, etc. for painting by covering it with a special paint that helps the next layer of paint to stay on IDIOMS prime the pump to encourage the growth of a new or weak business or industry by putting money into it