primary means
collocation in Englishmeaningsofprimaryandmean
These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withmean.
primary
adjective
uk/ˈpraɪ.mər.i/us/ˈpraɪ.mer.i/
more important than anything ...
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mean
noun[S]
uk/miːn/us/miːn/
mathematicsspecialized
the result you get by adding two or more amounts together and dividing the total by the number ...
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(Definition ofprimaryandmeanfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)
Examplesofprimary means
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Their restriction to shallow marine environments suggests that photosynthesis was the primary means of organic matter production for these benthic communities.
From theCambridge English Corpus
To convey an idea of wealth and prestige, seafood is one of the primary means of illustration in this newspaper cartoon (1996).
From theCambridge English Corpus
A primary means for such study is computer simulation using high-fidelity multibody dynamics models including flexible structures and contact dynamics.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Consider for example defaults concerning primary means of locomotion: "animals normally walk", "birds normally fly", "penguins normally swim".
From theCambridge English Corpus
Bondholdings evidence substantial fluctuation because the bond market is serving as the primary means of risk sharing in this economy.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Again, the primary means of sonically evoking this alienating experience is through synthesizers and the heavy use of electronic recording techniques.
From theCambridge English Corpus
While canvassing is the primary means of achieving the former, spending on leaflets, posters and election addresses also contributes to the latter.
From theCambridge English Corpus
It does not function as the primary means of communication of its speakers.
From theCambridge English Corpus
All participants had oral language as their primary means of communication.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Indeed, unlike in gospel, in country, duet singing was a primary means by which women soloists established themselves as professionals.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Second, the regimes contrasted with respect to the primary means through which elites generated support and\\or compliance from societal groups.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Television news, which usually provides the primary means for enhancing political executives' image, remained rather unimportant as an information source about elected politicians.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Repetition offers a primary means for signalling what new information has been taken up by the other and so added to common ground.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In the traditional view of biological evolution, the primary means of recording (or retaining) and passing on variation is via genes.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The nucleus ambiguus also innervates the larynx, which is used by most mammals to produce vocalization, the primary means of communicating emotional state.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In most cases, bureaucracies also spend immense energy selling their very structures; publicity is one of a bureaucracy's primary means of establishing and maintaining authority.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The primary means for these interactions is natural language.
From theCambridge English Corpus
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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