Basic Details
Word: Prime
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: First in importance, or of the very best quality. In maths, a prime number can be divided exactly only by 1 and by itself.
Synonyms: main, chief, principal, best
Antonyms: minor, secondary
How to Spell Prime
Syllables: prime
Tricky part: The silent e at the end makes the i say its own name. Without the e you get prim, a different word meaning neat and proper.
Watch out for: pryme, prieme, primme
Memory tip: Prime, time, crime and lime all end in ime with a silent e; picture a prime minister keeping time on a clock.
Idioms and Phrases
- in the prime of life: at the time when someone is strongest and most active Example: "Dhoni was in the prime of life when he led India to the World Cup win."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Rice is the prime crop in the fields around Thanjavur.
Example 2: Seven is a prime number, but nine is not.
Example 3: The new shop opened in a prime spot near the bus stand.
Fun Fact
Two is the only even prime number, because every other even number can be divided by 2.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word 'prime' as used in the sentence:
Clean drinking water is the prime concern of the villagers during a long summer.
a) main
b) minor
c) rare
d) final
Show answer
a) main. Prime here means most important, and main says the same; minor is its opposite.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence and choose the word they make:
The new hotel stands in a merip location right beside the beach.
a) prime
b) prize
c) prism
d) pride
Show answer
a) prime. Prism, pride and prize each need a letter that is not in merip, which leaves prime.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the correctly spelt word:
1. prime 2. vacume 3. rythm 4. seperate
a) a space with no air in it
b) to divide or move apart
c) a regular, repeated pattern of sound
d) first in importance; main
Show answer
d) first in importance; main. Vacuum has a double u, rhythm hides an h after the r, and separate has an a after the p.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Only one number here is prime. Pick it.
a) 27
b) 15
c) 21
d) 13
Show answer
d) 13
2. The prime minister of a country is its ____ minister.
a) newest
b) chief
c) oldest
d) youngest
Show answer
b) chief
