Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Prime \Prime\, a. [F., fr. L. primus first, a superl. corresponding to the compar. prior former. See Prior, a., Foremost, Former, and cf. Prim, a., Primary, Prince.]
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First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. ``Prime forests.''
--Tennyson.She was not the prime cause, but I myself.
--Milton.Note: In this sense the word is nearly superseded by primitive, except in the phrase prime cost.
First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister. ``Prime virtues.''
--Dryden.First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
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Early; blooming; being in the first stage. [Poetic]
His starry helm, unbuckled, showed him prime In manhood where youth ended.
--Milton. Lecherous; lustful; lewd. [Obs.]
--Shak.Marked or distinguished by a mark (') called a prime mark.
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(Math.)
Divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number.
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Having no common factor; -- used with to; as, 12 is prime to 25. Prime and ultimate ratio. (Math.). See Ultimate. Prime conductor. (Elec.) See under Conductor. Prime factor (Arith.), a factor which is a prime number. Prime figure (Geom.), a figure which can not be divided into any other figure more simple than itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, etc. Prime meridian (Astron.), the meridian from which longitude is reckoned, as the meridian of Greenwich or Washington. Prime minister, the responsible head of a ministry or executive government; applied particularly to that of England. Prime mover. (Mech.)
A natural agency applied by man to the production of power. Especially: Muscular force; the weight and motion of fluids, as water and air; heat obtained by chemical combination, and applied to produce changes in the volume and pressure of steam, air, or other fluids; and electricity, obtained by chemical action, and applied to produce alternation of magnetic force.
An engine, or machine, the object of which is to receive and modify force and motion as supplied by some natural source, and apply them to drive other machines; as a water wheel, a water-pressure engine, a steam engine, a hot-air engine, etc.
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Fig.: The original or the most effective force in any undertaking or work; as, Clarkson was the prime mover in English antislavery agitation.
Prime number (Arith.), a number which is exactly divisible by no number except itself or unity, as 5, 7, 11.
Prime vertical (Astron.), the vertical circle which passes through the east and west points of the horizon.
Prime-vertical dial, a dial in which the shadow is projected on the plane of the prime vertical.
Prime-vertical transit instrument, a transit instrument the telescope of which revolves in the plane of the prime vertical, -- used for observing the transit of stars over this circle.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context philosophy English) The initial agent that is the cause of all things. 2 A machine, such as a water wheel or steam engine, that receives and modifies energy as supplied by some natural source or fuel and transforms it into mechanical work 3 (context automotive English) The front part of a semi-trailer type truck, i.e., the tractor to which the trailer part attaches. 4 (context US English) A military or heavy construction vehicle.
WordNet
n. a self-caused agent that is the cause of all things; "God is the first cause" [syn: first cause, primum mobile]
Wikipedia
Prime mover may refer to:
In engineering, a prime mover is an engine that converts fuel to useful work. In locomotives, the prime mover is thus the source of power for its propulsion. Generally it is any locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine. In an engine-generator set, the engine is the prime mover, as distinct from the generator.
Prime Mover is the third and final studio album by the Christian Rock band AD. Prime Mover has been re-released twice since its first release in 1988. It was re-recorded in 1998 and titled Prime Mover, Vol. 2, and released in 2008 with another title, Prime Mover (redux).
Prime Mover is a 2009 Australian/ British comedy-crime love story which stars Michael Dorman, Emily Barclay, Ben Mendelsohn, Gyton Grantley, William McInnes, Anthony Hayes and Andrew S. Gilbert. It is directed by acclaimed film and television director David Caesar of Mullet and Dirty Deeds fame, in which he also worked with McInnes, Mendelsohn and Gilbert.
The film was released to European audiences in Germany on 8 February 2009 and in Australia on 8 June 2009.
Usage examples of "prime mover".
And by using a lowly long-dog, he made sure no one would ever be able to point the finger at the prime mover.
And Big Jim-and this surprised me as much as it will you-is almost certainly not the prime mover.
These papers would proclaim you the prime mover in the outrage against your sister.
Because Randy happened to be in the picture, they have mistakenly fastened upon him as being more of a prime mover than he really is.
To disguise the fact that the General had been a prime mover in the Spanish Conspiracy fifteen years earlier?
The cone, whatever it was, must not only be the prime mover of his state, it must also be the prime feeder.
Brune is the prime mover of the Secret Service and he's out and out to get Andre.
Without a prime mover Infante was only a hundred and sixty pounds of maniac, instead of eight tons of it.
He was the prime mover in enclosing Woolhampton Common - by the way, we say either Woolcombe or Woolhampton here: it's all one - and now he wants to do the same to Simmon's Lea.