Meaning & use
primer
Last updated
A short introductory book or guide on a subject, or a coating applied to a surface to prepare it for paint.
See it in a sentence
The professor handed out a primer on statistics before the course began.
Apply a coat of primer to the wall before painting it white.
A note on using this word
Pronunciation and meaning both shift with context, but "primer" always signals something that prepares the way for what follows.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A small explosive device used to ignite a larger charge.
The engineer checked the primer before setting off the controlled blast.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “primer”, then compare your use with the examples above.