primer

CEFRC1

/ˈpɹaɪ.mə/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A basic book for learning to read or study a subject.

  2. 02

    noun

    A first coat of paint put on a surface.

Examples

  • This book's a good primer on the subject, but it doesn't go into much depth.

  • Do you need to sand primer?

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • /ˈpɹɪm.əɹ/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A children's book intended to teach literacy: how to read, write, and spell.

  2. Any of various similar works issued in England for private prayer in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.

  3. A prayer or devotional book intended for laity, initially an abridgment of the breviary and manual including the hours of the Virgin Mary, 15 gradual and 7 penitential psalms, the litany, the placebo and dirige forming the office of the dead, and the commendations.

More examples

In context

  • The percussion primer, known as the “ 110-grain percussion primer,” contains an igniting charge of 95 grains of black powder in addition to the essential elements of a percussion primer.

  • Therefore, the shotgun primer is quite self- contained. It consists of a separate metal cup called a battery cup that contains the primer itself. That's why it is considered a two-piece primer.

  • Take care when handling primers, especially ensure that your fingers are free of oil or dirt. Oil can affect the detonating properties of the primer pellet, and can be the cause of misfires if too much oil gets into the primer.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The artist applied a layer of blank before painting the wall.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English primer, primere, from Medieval Latin primarius and primarium (“prayer book”) possibly via Anglo-Norman primer (“prayer book”), from prima (“prime the liturgical hour and office”) + -arius and -arium (suffix forming related objects). Its use for schoolbooks derived from the late medieval and early modern use of such prayer books to teach reading.