primer

A substance put on a surface before painting to help the paint stick and cover well.

• Apply primer before you paint the door.
• The metal needs a coat of primer.
• Let the primer dry before adding the final color.

Similar words: undercoat

Common phrases: coat of primer, wood primer, apply primer

A small device or substance that starts the burning of gunpowder or another explosive.

• The cartridge contains a small primer.
• The firing pin struck the primer.
• The damaged primer failed to ignite the gunpowder.

Common phrases: cartridge primer, primer cap, primer ignition

A book that teaches children the first steps in reading, writing, and spelling.

• The child opened her primer.
• Their first reading primer had large letters and simple pictures.
• Teachers used these primers to teach spelling.

Common phrases: reading primer, school primer, alphabet primer