prime
prime — 形容詞
1. ranking above all others in importance, value, or influence — for example, the p
首要的
在重要性或影響力上排名第一的
ranking above all others in importance, value, or influence — for example, the prime reason for a decision or a person's prime concern in a difficult situation.
The prime reason for the project delay was a lack of funding.
專案延遲的主要原因是資金不足。
prime + reason (attributive use showing main cause)
Ezra's prime concern during the storm was his family's safety.
在暴風雨中，Ezra 最擔心的是家人的安全。
prime + concern for something that matters most
Reducing child poverty remains a prime objective for the government.
減少兒童貧窮仍是政府的主要目標。
Stefan's prime motivation for learning Mandarin was to communicate with his wife's family.
Stefan 學中文的主要動力是能和太太的家人溝通。
文法句型
prime + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used before a noun (attributive). You would not say 'This reason is prime' — instead say 'This is the prime reason.'
常見錯誤
2. having the highest standard of excellence or the best grade available on the mar
頂級的
品質最好、等級最高的
having the highest standard of excellence or the best grade available on the market — used especially for food, materials, and land.
The restaurant serves only prime cuts of beef from local farms.
這家餐廳只供應來自本地牧場的頂級牛肉。
prime + cut (quality grade of meat)
Camila bought a prime piece of land near the river for her vineyard.
Camila 買了一塊河邊的精華地段來種葡萄。
prime + piece of land (best location)
Tara picked the prime spot on the beach, right by the water.
Tara 挑了沙灘上最好的位置，就在水邊。
The hotel occupies a prime location in the city centre, near all the main museums.
這家旅館位於市中心精華地段，靠近所有主要博物館。
- excellent
broader meaning, not limited to commercial grading
- top-quality
more informal; used in advertising and casual speech
- premium
suggests higher price as well as higher quality
- inferior
lower in quality or grade
- substandard
below the expected level of quality
文法句型
prime + noun
用法筆記
Common in shopping, real estate, and food-industry contexts. 'Prime real estate' refers to land in the best location, and 'prime beef' refers to meat graded as top quality.
常見錯誤
3. (of a whole number larger than 1) having no whole-number divisors other than 1 a
質數的
只能被一和自己整除的整數
(of a whole number larger than 1) having no whole-number divisors other than 1 and itself — for instance, 7 can only be split into 1 × 7.
The number 7 is prime because no smaller number divides it evenly except 1.
數字 7 是質數，因為除了 1 以外，沒有更小的數能整除它。
is prime — predicate use after linking verb
Rin learned to list all prime numbers between 1 and 50 in maths class.
Rin 在數學課上學到要列出 1 到 50 之間所有的質數。
prime number — attributive before noun
Sahil's maths teacher asked the class to circle all the prime numbers on the worksheet.
Sahil 的數學老師要全班在學習單上圈出所有的質數。
Zola showed her younger brother that 7 is a prime, because nothing except 1 and 7 divides it.
Zola 向弟弟解釋說，7 是質數，因為除了 1 和 7 以外沒有其他數能整除它。
- composite
having factors other than 1 and itself
文法句型
prime number/number is prime
用法筆記
Unlike the other adjective senses, this one can be used both before a noun (a prime number) and after a linking verb (the number 7 is prime).
常見錯誤
prime — 名詞
1. the period in a person's life when they are at their peak in terms of physical s
巔峰期
體能或事業成就達到最高峰的階段
the period in a person's life when they are at their peak in terms of physical strength, energy, health, or professional success.
Professional athletes often reach their physical prime in their mid-twenties.
職業運動員通常在二十五歲左右達到體能巔峰。
reach one's prime — verb + noun collocation
Rachid was an outstanding violinist in his prime, touring concert halls across Europe.
Rachid 在巔峰時期是一位出色的小提琴家，巡迴歐洲各大音樂廳演出。
in one's prime — fixed prepositional phrase
The photographer captured Maja in the prime of her career as a fashion model.
那位攝影師在 Maja 模特兒事業的全盛時期捕捉了她的身影。
Bilal retired from competitive swimming while still in his physical prime.
Bilal 在體能仍處於巔峰時就從競技游泳界退休了。
- peak
more general; can also apply to non-human things like performance or demand
- heyday
more literary; suggests a past golden period
- golden age
broader; can refer to a civilisation or field, not just an individual
- decline
the period after one's prime when abilities fade
文法句型
in one's prime
past one's prime
用法筆記
Used mainly in the fixed phrases 'in one's prime', 'past one's prime', and 'the prime of [someone's] life/career'. Rarely used alone without a possessive or a modifying phrase.
常見錯誤
2. the written symbol (′) that follows a number or letter, indicating feet in lengt
撇號；符號′
用於表示英呎或分鐘的書寫符號
the written symbol (′) that follows a number or letter, indicating feet in lengths, minutes in angles or timekeeping, or marking a related character as different from the original.
The room measured 12′ by 15′, which means twelve feet by fifteen feet.
這個房間長 12′、寬 15′，也就是 12 英尺乘以 15 英尺。
′ symbol = feet — measurement notation
In the formula, a′ represents the new value after the calculation.
在公式中，a′ 代表計算後的新數值。
′ symbol = derivative or second version
The architect wrote 'ceiling height 10′' on the plan, meaning ten feet.
建築師在圖上寫了「天花板高度 10′」，代表十英尺。
In calculus class, f′(x) is read as 'f prime of x' and stands for the derivative.
在微積分課上，f′(x) 唸作「f prime of x」，代表導數。
文法句型
[number]'
[letter]'
用法筆記
Distinguish from the double prime (″) used for inches or seconds. In casual writing, a straight apostrophe (') is often used instead of the proper prime symbol (′).
3. a whole number greater than 1 that can be divided exactly only by 1 and itself.
質數
只能被一和自己整除的大於一之整數
a whole number greater than 1 that can be divided exactly only by 1 and itself.
The numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 are all primes because each one has exactly two factors.
2、3、5、7、11 都是質數。
primes — noun plural for prime numbers
Tomás had to list every prime under 100 for his homework assignment.
Tomás 必須列出所有小於 100 的質數作為回家作業。
Mathematicians have been trying to find patterns in the distribution of primes for centuries.
數百年來，數學家一直在尋找質數分布規律。
Bilal had trouble remembering which numbers under 30 were primes during the test.
Bilal 在考試時一直記不起來哪些小於 30 的數是質數。
- prime number
the full form; more explicit in educational contexts
- composite number
a number with factors other than 1 and itself
文法句型
a prime
the primes
用法筆記
Often used interchangeably with 'prime number' in mathematical contexts. The shortest prime is 2, which is also the only even prime.
常見錯誤
prime — 動詞
1. to give someone information, instructions, or warnings ahead of time so that the
事先指點
提前告知資訊使其做好準備
to give someone information, instructions, or warnings ahead of time so that they are ready to handle a particular situation well.
The press secretary primed the journalists with prepared answers before the briefing.
新聞秘書在記者會前就先準備好答案讓記者們有所準備。
prime + person + with + information
Niran primed his younger sister on what to say during the college interview.
Niran 事先提醒妹妹大學面試時該怎麼說。
prime + person + on + topic
The team was well primed for the debate after weeks of research.
經過幾週的研究，這個團隊已經為辯論做好了充分準備。
The agent primed the actress for the interview with a list of likely questions.
經紀人給了女演員一份可能被問到的題目清單，替面試做準備。
文法句型
prime + person + for + situation
prime + person + with + information
用法筆記
Often used in the passive ('be primed') or followed by 'with' (information) or 'for' (a situation). The focus is on mental or verbal preparation, not physical training.
常見錯誤
2. to cover a surface such as wood, metal, or plaster with a first layer of special
上底漆
在表面塗抹第一層特殊塗料
to cover a surface such as wood, metal, or plaster with a first layer of special paint or coating that prepares it for the final colour.
Before painting the wall, Lucas primed it with a white undercoat.
刷牆之前，Lucas 先用白色底漆打底。
prime + surface + with + undercoat
The carpenter primed the wooden door to seal it against moisture.
木匠在木門上塗了底漆以防止受潮。
You should always prime bare metal before applying the top coat.
在塗面漆之前，一定要先在裸金屬表面打底。
After sanding the table, Stefan primed the surface before painting it dark blue.
Stefan 把桌子磨平後，先上了底漆再漆成深藍色。
文法句型
prime + surface
prime + with + primer
用法筆記
Common in DIY and professional painting instructions. The special paint used in this step is called 'primer' (noun). Most surfaces need priming before the final paint will stick properly.
常見錯誤
3. to load the firing mechanism of a bomb, mine, or gun so that it can be discharge
裝好引信
使炸彈或槍枝處於可爆炸或擊發狀態
to load the firing mechanism of a bomb, mine, or gun so that it can be discharged or set off at the right moment.
The soldiers primed the explosives and moved to a safe distance.
士兵們裝好炸藥的引信後退到安全距離。
prime + explosives — standard military collocation
Eitan carefully primed the old rifle before taking aim at the target.
Eitan 小心翼翼地裝好舊步槍，然後瞄準目標。
The device was primed to detonate as soon as the door opened.
那個裝置設定為門一打開就會引爆。
The technician primed the detonator and connected it to the timing mechanism.
技術人員裝好雷管的引信，然後將它連接到定時裝置上。
- disarm
to remove the firing mechanism or make safe
文法句型
prime + bomb/gun
be primed to explode/fire
用法筆記
In modern civilian language, this sense is most common in news reports about military operations or in crime fiction. The related noun is 'primer', meaning the small charge used to set off a larger explosive.