primer
primer Lexical Profile
primer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A substance used as a preparatory coat on previously unpainted wood, metal, or canvas, or applied to the skin before makeup, to ensure better adhesion and durability.
"Before painting the living room walls, we applied a coat of white primer to seal the drywall."
An elementary textbook that serves as an introduction to a subject of study, or a small book used for teaching children to read.
"The professor recommended a concise primer on macroeconomics for students without a finance background."
A short single-stranded nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis during replication or polymerase chain reaction.
"The laboratory technician designed a specific oligonucleotide primer to amplify the target gene."
A small cap, cylinder, or charge containing a sensitive explosive compound used to ignite the main powder charge in a cartridge or blasting device.
"Moisture had damaged the primer at the base of the brass casing, preventing ignition."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'primer' is a heteronym with two distinct pronunciations in American English: when referring to an introductory textbook, it is traditionally pronounced with a short 'i' (PRIM-er, rhyming with 'simmer'), whereas when referring to an undercoat of paint, cosmetic base, or biochemical strand, it is pronounced with a long 'i' (PRY-mer). In British English, the long 'i' pronunciation is standard for all senses.
• Rhymes for primer
Word Origin & Etymology
The educational sense derives from Middle English and Anglo-Norman 'primer', from Medieval Latin 'primarius' ('first' or 'primary'), originally referring to a first prayer book or devotional manual used to teach children to read. The sense of a preparatory coating or igniter is an agent noun formed later in English from the verb 'prime' ('to prepare') plus '-er'.