primer
noun
[ ˈprʌɪmə ]
• a substance used as a preparatory coat on wood, metal, or canvas, especially to prevent the absorption of subsequent layers of paint or the development of rust.
• "apply three coats of primer"
• a cap or cylinder containing a compound which responds to friction or an electrical impulse and ignites the charge in a cartridge or explosive.
• "the nitro-cellulose is ignited by the spark that comes from the primer"
• a small pump for pumping fuel to prime an internal combustion engine, especially in an aircraft.
• "no more than four pumps of the primer usually suffice"
• a molecule that serves as a starting material for a polymerization process.
• "the duplex RNA primer cannot initiate DNA replication"
primer
noun
• an elementary textbook that serves as an introduction to a subject of study or is used for teaching children to read.
• "a first-year philosophy primer"
Origin:
late Middle English: from medieval Latin primarius (liber) ‘primary (book)’ and primarium (manuale) ‘primary (manual)’.
