primer

1 of 2

noun (1)

prim·er ˈpri-mər

chiefly British ˈprī-mə

Synonyms of primer next

: a small book for teaching children to read

: a small introductory book on a subject

: a short informative piece of writing

primer

2 of 2

noun (2)

prim·er ˈprī-mər

: a device for priming

especially : a cap, tube, or wafer containing percussion powder or compound used to ignite an explosive charge

: material used in priming a surface

called also prime coat

: a molecule (such as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (such as a longer chain of DNA)

Did you know?

Primers were once a standard part of every child's education. The first primer printed in North America, The New England Primer (ca. 1690), was typical; it contained many quotations from the Bible and many moral lessons, and the text was accompanied by numerous woodcut illustrations. We no longer use the word in early education, but it's widely used in everyday speech. Notice how primer is pronounced; don't mix it up with the kind of paint that's pronounced with a long *i *sound.

Examples of primer in a Sentence

Noun (1) a primer of human anatomy

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The company’s Intelligent Paints might be the place to start, as they can be applied to almost any surface without primer. …the inimitable designer, collector, arbiter of style, and AD100 Hall of Famer Mica Ertegun’s private collection is headed to auction at Christie’s beginning November 19. —

Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2024 Davenport, a longtime therapist and educator, developed a number of exercises that also serve as a useful primer on climate science and environmental justice. —

Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024 Editor's tip: This product can be worn alone or under foundation as a blurring primer, but shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis reported that this balm replaced almost all of her complexion products. —

Sarah Han, Allure, 5 Sep. 2024 According to one 72-year-old reviewer, the primer is worth stocking up on. —

Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 4 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for primer

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, "layperson's prayer book," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmārius, prīmārium, noun derivatives from masculine and neuter of prīmārius "lying at the beginning, primary entry 1"

Noun (2)

prime entry 3 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of primer was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Primer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primer. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

primer

1 of 2 noun

prim·er ˈprim-ər

especially British ˈprī-mər

: a small book for teaching children to read

: a book that introduces a subject

a primer of chemistry

: a short informative piece of writing

a primer on healthy eating

primer

2 of 2 noun

prim·er ˈprī-mər

: a device (as a cap or tube) containing a small explosive charge that is used for setting off a larger explosive charge (as in a cartridge)

: material used in priming a surface

Medical Definition

primer

noun

prim·er ˈprī-mər

: a molecule (as a short strand of RNA or DNA) whose presence is required for formation of another molecule (as a longer chain of DNA)

Last Updated: 28 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

exorbitant

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

primer

noun (1)

noun (2)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Examples of primer in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near primer

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition