Words / B2

PRYM/praɪm/

Prime means main or most important; also a prime number, or the best time (noun); as a verb, to prepare: prime farmland; prime minister; prime a pump. Primary is a close adjective (already in the dictionary); first is everyday. Prime farmland still needs a named soil type. Mix-up: primary / prize; primer. Do not write prime for “a good try”.

Meaning

Main or most important; also a prime number, or the best time (noun).

Examples

• “Prime farmland still needs a named soil type on the map.”
• “17 is prime, which is the number sense in the maths paper.”

Good to know

prime + noun; prime minister; a prime number; in your prime. Trap: primary / prize. Geography, maths, and news. Main, best, or only divisible by 1 and itself.

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