prime

11 ENTRIES FOUND:

¹ prime /ˈpraɪm/ adjective

¹ prime

/ˈpraɪm/

adjective

Learner's definition of PRIME

always used before a noun

: most important : primary最重要的；最主要的

our prime responsibility我们最主要的职责
The wine industry is of prime importance to the California economy.葡萄酒行业对加州经济具有最重要的作用。
The police have not yet named the prime suspect in the murder investigation.警方在这起谋杀案的调查中尚未确定主要嫌疑犯。

: of the highest quality or value : excellent优质的；最好的；上乘的

— used to say that someone or something is a very good example of a particular kind of person or thing典型的

The melting of ice caps is a prime example of the effects of global warming.冰盖融化是全球变暖影响的一个典型例证。
Orson Welles is a prime example of the movie director as artist.奥逊·威尔斯是典型的电影导演艺术大师。
a prime specimen of a racehorse赛马的典型样本

: most likely or very likely to be chosen for something, to experience something, etc.最可能的；很可能的；首选的

The mayor has become a prime target for criticism.市长已成为最可能的抨击目标。
Her father was unhealthy and looked like a prime candidate for a heart attack. [=he looked like someone who was likely to have a heart attack]她父亲健康状况不佳，看起来很有可能会心脏病发作。

² prime /ˈpraɪm/ noun

² prime

/ˈpraɪm/

noun

Learner's definition of PRIME

[singular] : the period in life when a person is best in health, strength, etc. : the most active or successful time of a person's life盛年；全盛时期；黄金时期

young college graduates in the prime of life年富力强的大学毕业生
She just retired, but she's still in her prime. [=still active and in good health]她刚刚退休了，但依然精力旺盛。
He was a great pitcher once, but he's past his prime. [=is no longer as good as he was when he was younger]他曾是个优秀的投手，但他的巅峰时期已经过去了。

[noncount] technical : prime rate

³ prime /ˈpraɪm/ verb

primes; primed; priming

³ prime

/ˈpraɪm/

verb

primes; primed; priming

Learner's definition of PRIME

[+ object]

: to make (someone) ready to do something : prepare使（某人）做好准备

She was obviously primed for the questions at the press conference.她显然对记者招待会上的提问有所准备。
Both teams are primed for battle and ready to play.两队都为比赛做好了准备。

: to make (something) ready for use把（某事物）准备好；使备用

: to cover (a surface) with special paint in order to prepare it for the final layer of paint给（表面）涂上底色

prime the pump

: to do something that will help a thing to grow or develop促进；刺激；支持

The government has to prime the pump to get the economy going.政府必须采取措施，以刺激经济发展。
That sort of language will only prime the pump for an ugly argument later.那种语言将只会在以后挑起一场令人不快的争辩。