primitive

pri

ˈprɪ

pri

mɪ

tive

tɪv

tiv

/ˈprɪmɪtɪv/

Definition & Meaning of "primitive"in English

primitive

ADJECTIVE

characteristic of an early stage of human or animal evolution

early

first

initial

original

primary

Examples

The cave paintings depict the life of primitive man.

Fossils of primitive animals give insight into Earth's early history.

related or belonging to a society or way of life without modern industry, etc.

Examples

The tribe continues to live a primitive lifestyle, relying on hand-made tools and natural resources.

The explorers were fascinated by the primitive customs they encountered on the island.

basic and simple, lacking modern features or advancements

Examples

The primitive tools, consisting of simple stone implements, were used by early humans for hunting and gathering.

The primitive cooking methods involved roasting food over an open flame.

(of an art style) simple and naive, intentionally avoiding refined techniques

naive

Examples

The artist adopted a primitive style, using bold colors and basic shapes.

Primitive art often focuses on emotional expression rather than technical precision.

(of behavior or feelings) instinctual, originating from unconscious needs or desires

primal

primeval

primordial

Examples

Fear triggered a primitive response, making him act without thinking.

The fight-or-flight reaction is a primitive instinct shared by humans and animals.

Primitive

NOUN

a base word or root from which other words are historically derived or formed

Examples

The word " run " is a primitive from which many other forms, like " runner " and " running, " are derived.

Linguists study primitives to trace the evolution of languages.

an algebraic or geometric expression or curve from which a related expression, like a polar or reciprocal, is derived

Examples

The original equation served as the primitive for deriving more complex functions.

In this geometric study, the primitive curve was used to calculate its reciprocal.

a person who belongs to an early or undeveloped society

Old use

Examples

The archaeologists discovered the remains of a Stone Age primitive.

The cave paintings were believed to be created by primitives living thousands of years ago.

an artist who creates artwork that is simple and unrefined, often resembling the style of a child's drawings

Examples

As a primitive, the artist favored bold lines and bright colors over realistic details.

The primitive ’s paintings captured a raw, emotional quality, despite their simple forms.

4.1

a work of art that displays a simple, unrefined style, with basic forms and minimal detail

Examples

The exhibition featured several primitives, each with a charmingly naive style.

This primitive captures the essence of the subject with simple lines and bright colors.

an artist from the period before the Renaissance, characterized by a simpler, more symbolic style

Examples

The museum exhibited works by Italian primitives from the 14th century.

Primitives focused on religious themes with less emphasis on realism and perspective.

5.1

an example of artwork from the period before the Renaissance, often characterized by its symbolic, flat style and lack of perspective

Examples

The gallery displayed several primitives, including early religious frescoes.

This primitive shows the stylistic simplicity common before the Renaissance.

Lexical Tree

primitively

primitiveness

primitive

prime

Nearby Words

Definition & Meaning of "primitive"in English

Download Mobile App