1. (

• primary ,
• primary_election

) a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen ;

2. (

• primary ,
• primary_feather ,
• primary_quill

) one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing ;

3. (

• primary

) (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it ;

4. (

• primary_coil ,
• primary_winding ,
• primary

) coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit; "current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil" ;

1. (

• primary

) of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest" ;

2. (

• primary

) not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; "a primary instinct" ;

3. (

• chief ,
• main ,
• primary ,
• principal ,
• master

) most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch" ;

4. (

• elementary ,
• elemental ,
• primary ,
• basal ,

) of or being the essential or basic part; "an elementary need for love and nurturing"; "a basal reader" ;