primitive

CEFRB1

/ˈpɹɪmɪtɪv/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Simple, old-fashioned, or not highly developed.

  2. 02

    noun

    A person or thing from an early stage of development.

Examples

  • He contends that primitive life once existed on Mars.

  • The anthropologist delivered a lecture on primitive cultures.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. A member of a primitive society.

  2. Primitive or primeval nature; the innate, instinctive element within a person; the deep, instinctive, precultural layer of human nature.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.

More examples

In context

  • I used primitive hearts to decorate the quilt.

  • a primitive style of dress

  • primitive innocence; the primitive church

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English primitif, from Old French primitif, from Latin prīmitīvus (“first or earliest of its kind”), from prīmus (“first”); see prime. Doublet of primitivo.