English Dictionary

prime

/pɹaɪ̯m/

verb

(transitive) To prepare a mechanism for its main work. / (transitive) To apply a coat of primer paint to. / (obsolete, intransitive) To be renewed.

She is priming the walls before painting.

意味（1）

(transitive) To prepare a mechanism for its main work.

You'll have to press this button twice to prime the fuel pump.

意味（2）

(transitive) To apply a coat of primer paint to.

I need to prime these handrails before we can apply the finish coat.

意味（3）

(obsolete, intransitive) To be renewed.

Nights baſhfull Empreſſe, though ſhe often wayne, / As oft repents her darkneſſe ; primes againe ; / And with her circling Hornes does re-embrace / Her brothers wealth, and orbs her ſilver face.

意味（4）

(intransitive) To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.

意味（5）

(intransitive, of a steam boiler) To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed.

Although we took our eight bogies along to Whitstable at 60 m.p.h., and made a clean start from there, after Herne Bay the engine primed badly on Blacksole Bank and nearly stopped before we got over the top. Then we ran like the wind across the marshes with half-regulator, 30 per cent cut-off, and the engine blowing off.

意味（6）

To apply priming to (a musket or cannon); to apply a primer to (a metallic cartridge).

意味（7）

To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to coach.

to prime a witness

意味（8）

(UK, dialect, obsolete) To trim or prune.

to prime trees

意味（9）

(mathematics) To mark with a prime mark.