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   primitive

   /ˈprɪmɪtɪv/

   adjective

   • 1. relating to, denoting, or preserving the character of an early stage in the evolutionary or historical development of something: "primitive mammals" Similar ancientearliestfirstprehistoricantediluvianantiqueprimordialprimevalprimalprimaryloweroriginalproto-ur-rare:autochthonousautochthonicprimigenialOpposite modernrecentdeveloped
   • ▪ relating to or denoting a preliterate, non-industrial society or culture characterized by simple social and economic organization: "primitive people" Similar preliteratenon-industrialpre-industrialundevelopedindigenousaboriginalsimpleunsophisticatedOpposite advancedliterateindustrial
   • ▪ (of behaviour or emotion) apparently originating in unconscious needs or desires and unaffected by objective reasoning: "the primitive responses we share with many animals"
   • ▪ of or denoting a simple, naive style of art that deliberately rejects sophisticated artistic techniques: "the Fauves saw primitive art as a liberating force" Similar simplenaturalunsophisticatednaiveunaffectedundevelopedchildlikeinnocentartlessunpretentiousuntaughtuntraineduntutoredOpposite sophisticatedrefined
   • 2. very basic or unsophisticated in terms of comfort, convenience, or efficiency: "the accommodation at the camp was a bit primitive" Similar crudesimpleroughbasicelementaryrough-hewnrudimentaryundevelopedunrefinedunsophisticatedruderough and readymakeshiftold-fashionedobsoletearchaicOpposite sophisticatedadvanced
   • 3. not developed or derived from anything else: "primitive material of the universe"
   • ▪ denoting a word, base, or root from which another is historically derived.
   • ▪ (of an algebraic or geometric expression) from which another is derived, or which is not itself derived from another.
   • 4. (of a part or structure) in the first or early stage of formation or growth; rudimentary.

   noun

   • 1. a person belonging to a preliterate, non-industrial society: "reports of travellers and missionaries described contemporary primitives"
   • 2. a pre-Renaissance painter, or one who imitates the pre-Renaissance style.
   • ▪ an artist deliberately employing a simple, naive style: "the Catalan primitives"
   • ▪ a painting by a primitive artist, or an object in a primitive style: "Santa Fe style antiques and Mexican primitives"
   • 3. a word, base, or root from which another is historically derived.
   • ▪ an algebraic or geometric expression from which another is derived; a curve of which another is the polar or reciprocal.
   • ▪ any of a set of basic geometric shapes which may be generated in computer graphics: "the program includes a complete set of drawing primitives"

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘original, not derivative’): from Old French primitif, -ive, from Latin primitivus ‘first of its kind’, from primus ‘first’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. primitively adverb
   • 2. primitiveness noun
   • 3. primitivity noun

   Scrabble Points: 16

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2. People also ask

   What is a primitive society?

   • Primitive means belonging to a society in which people live in a very simple way, usually without industries or a writing system. ...studies of primitive societies. ...primitive tribes. Primitive means belonging to a very early period in the development of an animal or plant. ...primitive whales.

   PRIMITIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/primitive

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   What is a primitive trait?

   • 1. a. Of or relating to an early or original stage or state; primeval: life in the primitive ocean. b. Occurring in or characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution: fossils of primitive angiosperms from the Cretaceous Period. c. Having developed early in the evolutionary history of a group: Hair is a primitive trait of mammals. d.

   Primitive - definition of primitive by The Free Dictionary

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   What does primitive mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! PRIMITIVE definition: 1. relating to human society at a very early stage of development, with people living in a simple…. Learn more.

   PRIMITIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/primitive

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   What is a primitive form of life?

   • primitive forms of life. early in the history of the world or of humankind. primitive toolmaking. Anthropology. (no longer in technical use) of or relating to a preliterate or tribal people having cultural or physical similarities with their early ancestors. primitive passions. the primitive phase of the history of a town.

   PRIMITIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › primitivePRIMITIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › primitive

   • Cached

   Primitive means relating to human society at a very early stage of development, with people living in a simple way without machines or a writing system. It can also be disapproving of basic and unpleasant conditions. See more meanings, synonyms, and translations of primitive.

   • Znaczenie Primitive, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary

     primitive definicja: 1. relating to human society at a very...

   • Primitive in Arabic

     PRIMITIVE translate: بِدائي. Learn more in the Cambridge...

   • Simplified

     PRIMITIVE translate: 原始的，早期的，远古的, 无现代设施的，简陋的. Learn more in...

   • Primitive: German Translation

     PRIMITIVE translate: urzeitlich, primitiv. Learn more in the...

   • Primitive: Catalan Translation

     PRIMITIVE translate: primitiu. Learn more in the Cambridge...

   • Primitive: Italian Translation

     primitive translate: primitivo, primitivo, primitivo,...

   • Primitive: Indonesian Translation

     primitive translate: primitif, sederhana. Learn more in the...

   • Primitive: Thai Translation

     primitive translate: ซึ่งเป็นยุคแรก, ที่ไม่ซับซ้อน. Learn...

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › primitivePrimitive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › primitive

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   Learn the meaning of primitive as an adjective and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and word history. Primitive can refer to something original, basic, crude, or related to a primitive culture or art.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › primitivePRIMITIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › primitive

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   Primitive definition: being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence, especially in an early age of the world. See examples of PRIMITIVE used in a sentence.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › primitivePrimitive - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › primitive

   of or created by one without formal training; simple or naive in style. “ primitive art such as that by Grandma Moses is often colorful and striking” synonyms: naive. untrained.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › english › primitivePRIMITIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › english › primitive

   • Cached

   Primitive means belonging to a simple society, a very early stage of evolution, or a naive style of art. Learn more about the word origin, synonyms, and usage examples of primitive.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › primitivePrimitive - definition of primitive by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › primitive

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   Primitive means of or relating to an early or original stage or state, or having a simple or crude style or character. It can also refer to a nonindustrial, often tribal society, a word or concept from which another is derived, or a basic unit of machine instruction.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionprimitive adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the adjective primitive, which can describe something simple, old-fashioned, or instinctive. See examples, synonyms and word origin.