adjective / noun
primary
PRY-mair-ee/ˈpraɪmeri/
First or fundamental in a sequence or relationship.
The cornerstone provides primary support at the base of the stone arch.
Etymology
“First” can describe either position in a sequence or rank in importance. Primary carries both ideas, while its elementary sense identifies the first stage of learning or development.
In context
even if you start on the note above you always end on that primary note so that the primary note is um the most important one and you always resolve to it
More examples
- Her diary is a primary source for historians studying that period.
- Children in the primary grades learn basic reading and math.
- In painting class, we mix the primaries to make other colors.
Forms
primary · primaries
primarily adverb — For the most part; chiefly or mainly.
Similar words
- main
- Emphasizes greatest importance rather than earliest position in a sequence.
- fundamental
- Emphasizes an underlying basis rather than order in a sequence.
- initial
- Specifies the beginning without necessarily suggesting importance or basic status.