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Definition of First in English :

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First meaning in English

Meaning of First in English

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First

see synonyms of first

Noun

1. first, number one

the first or highest in an ordering or series

Example Sentences:
'He wanted to be the first'

2. first, number 1, number one

the first element in a countable series

Example Sentences:
'the first of the month'

3. beginning, commencement, first, get-go, kickoff, offset, outset, showtime, start, starting time

the time at which something is supposed to begin

Example Sentences:
'they got an early start'
'she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her'

4. first, first base

the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

5. first, first-class honours degree

an honours degree of the highest class

6. first, first gear, low, low gear

the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

Adjective

7. first

preceding all others in time or space or degree

Example Sentences:
'the first house on the right'
'the first day of spring'
'his first political race'
'her first baby'
'the first time'
'the first meetings of the new party'
'the first phase of his training'

8. 1st, first

indicating the beginning unit in a series

9. first, inaugural, initiative, initiatory, maiden

serving to set in motion

Example Sentences:
'the magazine's inaugural issue'
'the initiative phase in the negotiations'
'an initiatory step toward a treaty'
'his first (or maiden) speech in Congress'
'the liner's maiden voyage'

10. beginning, first

serving to begin

Example Sentences:
'the beginning canto of the poem'
'the first verse'

11. first, foremost, world-class

ranking above all others

Example Sentences:
'was first in her class'
'the foremost figure among marine artists'
'the top graduate'

12. first

highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections

Example Sentences:
'first soprano'
'the first violin section'
'played first horn'

Adverb

13. first, first of all, first off, firstly, foremost

before anything else

Example Sentences:
'first we must consider the garter snake'

14. first, for the first time

the initial time

Example Sentences:
'when Felix first saw a garter snake'

15. first

before another in time, space, or importance

Example Sentences:
'I was here first'
'let's do this job first'

16. first, foremost

prominently forward

Example Sentences:
'he put his best foot foremost'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

First

see synonyms of first
adjective (usually prenominal)
1. 
a. 
coming before all others; earliest, best, or foremost
b. 
(as noun)
I was the first to arrive
2. 
preceding all others in numbering or counting order; the ordinal number of one. Often written: 1st
3. 
rated, graded, or ranked above all other levels
4. 
denoting the lowest forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle
5. music
a. 
denoting the highest part assigned to one of the voice parts in a chorus or one of the sections of an orchestra
first soprano
the first violins
b. 
denoting the principal player in a specific orchestral section
he plays first horn
6.  first thing
7.  first things first
8.  the first thing
noun
9. 
the beginning; outset
I knew you were a rogue from the first
I couldn't see at first because of the mist
10. education, mainly British
an honours degree of the highest class
. Full term: first-class honours degree
11. 
something which has not occurred before
a first for the company
12. 
the lowest forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle; low gear
13. music
a. 
the highest part in a particular section of a chorus or orchestra
b. 
the instrument or voice taking such a part
c. 
the chief or leading player in a section of an orchestra; principal
14. music a rare word for prime (sense 11)
adverb
15. 
before anything else in order, time, preference, importance, etc
do this first
first, remove the head and tail of the fish
16.  first and last
17.  from first to last
18. 
for the first time
I've loved you since I first saw you
19. (sentence modifier)
in the first place or beginning of a series of actions
first I want to talk about criminality

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

First

see synonyms of first
adjective
1. 
preceding all others in a series; before any other; 1st
see also one
2. 
happening or acting before all others; earliest
3. 
ranking before all others; foremost in rank, quality, importance, etc.; principal
4. 
designating the slowest forward gear ratio of a motor vehicle transmission; low1 (sense 21)
5.  Music
playing or singing the part highest in pitch or the leading part
adverb
6. 
a. 
before any other person or thing; at the beginning
b. 
before doing anything else
7. 
as the first point; to begin with
8. 
for the first time
9. 
sooner; preferably
noun
10. 
the one before the second
11. 
any person, thing, class, place, etc. that is first
12. 
the first day of a month
13. 
the beginning; start
14. 
a first happening or thing of its kind
15.  [pl.]
the best quality of merchandise
16. 
the winning place in a race or competition
17. 
the first (sense 4) gear of a motor vehicle transmission; , low1 noun low1 (sense 31a)
18.  US, Baseball
first base
19.  Music
the highest or leading voice or instrument in an ensemble

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

First

see synonyms of first
n.
1. The ordinal number matching the number one in a series.
2. The one coming, occurring, or ranking before or above all others.
3. The beginning; the outset: from the first; at first.
4. Music The voice or instrument highest in pitch or carrying the principal part.
5. The transmission gear or corresponding gear ratio used to produce the range of lowest drive speeds in a motor vehicle.
6. The winning position in a contest: finished the season in first.
7. Baseball
a. First base.
b. A first baseman.
adj.
1. Corresponding in order to the number one.
2. Coming before all others in order or location: the first house on your left.
3. Occurring or acting before all others in time; earliest: the first day of spring.
4. Ranking above all others, as in importance or quality; foremost: was first in the class.
5. Music Being highest in pitch or carrying the principal part: first trumpet.
6. Of, relating to, or being the transmission gear or corresponding gear ratio used to produce the range of lowest drive speeds in a motor vehicle.
7. Of, related to, or being a member of the US president's household: first daughter Sasha Obama.
adv.
1. Before or above all others in time, order, rank, or importance: arrived first; forgot to light the oven first.
2. For the first time.
3. Rather; preferably: would die first.
4. In the first place; to begin with; firstly.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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