Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A cap or tube containing a small amount of explosive used to detonate the main explosive charge of a firearm or mine.
- noun An undercoat of paint or size applied to prepare a surface, as for painting.
- noun Genetics A segment of DNA or RNA that is complementary to a given DNA sequence and that is needed to initiate replication by DNA polymerase.
- noun An elementary textbook for teaching children to read.
- noun A book that covers the basic elements of a subject.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Middle English, devotional manual, from Norman French, from Medieval Latin prīmārium, from neuter of prīmārius, first, from Latin, from prīmus; see prime.]
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Examples
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