primary
adj
1
(a) [usuattrib 通常作定語]
earliest in time or order of development(在時間或發展順序上)初始的, 最早的, 開端的, 起步階段的
in the primary stage of development 在發展的最初階段
The disease is still in its primary stage. 此病尚處於初期階段.
primary causes 始發原因.
(b) (also Primary) of the lowest or earliest series of geological strata 最下面的或最早形成的巖層的; 原生的: Primary rocks 原生巖石.
2 [usu attrib 通常作定語]
most important; fundamental 首要的; 基礎性的; 根本的
The primary reason for advertising is to sell more goods. 做廣告的根本目的是要多出售貨物.
the primary (ie basic) meaning of a word 詞的基本意義
This is of primary importance. 這是最重要的.
primary stress/accent, ie the strongest stress given to a syllable in a word or compound (shown in this dictionary by the mark `) 主重音, 第一重音(標注於單詞或復合結構的音節上的最強的重音, 本詞典中以``'號表示). Cf 參看 principal.
3 [attrib 作定語]
of or for primary education 初等教育的
primary teachers 小學教師. Cf 參看 secondary. primary, n (also primary election) (in the US) election in which voters select party candidates for a coming election (美國)(為大選推舉黨內候選人而進行的)初選
the presidential primaries 提名總統候選人的初選.