Apostrophe vs. Prime: What's the Difference?

The superscript sign ( ' ), usually used to indicate the omission of a letter or letters from a word, the possessive case, or the plurals of numbers, letters, and abbreviations.

First or highest in rank or importance; main

The direct address of an absent or imaginary person or of a personified abstraction, especially as a digression in the course of a speech or composition.

Highest in quality; excellent

(orthography) The text character ’, which serves as a punctuation mark in various languages and as a diacritical mark in certain rare contexts.

Being the most desired or suitable example of something

(rhetoric) A sudden exclamatory piece of dialogue addressed to someone or something, especially absent.

Of or relating to the USDA highest grade of beef, having abundant marbling and usually only sold at restaurants.

A figure of speech by which the orator or writer suddenly breaks off from the previous method of his discourse, and addresses, in the second person, some person or thing, absent or present; as, Milton's apostrophe to Light at the beginning of the third book of "Paradise Lost."

First or early in time, order, or sequence

The contraction of a word by the omission of a letter or letters, which omission is marked by the character ['] placed where the letter or letters would have been; as, call'd for called.

(Mathematics) Of, relating to, or being a prime number.

The mark ['] used to denote that a word is contracted (as in ne'er for never, can't for can not), and as a sign of the possessive, singular and plural; as, a boy's hat, boys' hats. In the latter use it originally marked the omission of the letter e.

The period of greatest physical and mental robustness

Address to an absent or imaginary person

The period of best performance or peak activity

The mark (') used to indicate the omission of one or more letters from a printed word

To make ready; prepare

To prepare (a gun or mine) for firing by inserting a charge of gunpowder or a primer.

To prepare for operation, as by pouring water into a pump or gasoline into a carburetor.

To prepare (a surface) for painting by covering with size, primer, or an undercoat.

To inform or instruct beforehand; coach.

To become prepared for future action or operation.

First in importance, degree, or rank.

First in time, order, or sequence.

First in excellence, quality, or value.

Having exactly two integral factors: itself and unity (1 in the case of integers).

Such that if it divides a product, it divides one of the multiplicands.

(mathematics) Having its complement closed under multiplication: said only of ideals.

Marked or distinguished by the prime symbol.

Early; blooming; being in the first stage.

(obsolete) Lecherous, lewd, lustful.

(historical) The first hour of daylight; the first canonical hour.

(Christianity) The religious service appointed to this hour.

(obsolete) The early morning generally.

The earliest stage of something.

The most active, thriving, or successful stage or period.

The chief or best individual or part.

(music) The first note or tone of a musical scale.

(fencing) The first defensive position, with the sword hand held at head height, and the tip of the sword at head height.

A prime element of a mathematical structure, particularly a prime number.

(card games) A four-card hand containing one card of each suit in the game of primero; the opposite of a flush in poker.

(backgammon) Six consecutive blocks, which prevent the opponent's pieces from passing.

The symbol ′ used to indicate feet, minutes, derivation and other measures and mathematical operations.

Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1.

An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system.

(obsolete) The priming in a flintlock.

A feather, from the wing of the cock ostrich, that is of the palest possible shade.

(cycling) An intermediate sprint within a race, usually offering a prize and/or points.

(transitive) To prepare a mechanism for its main work.

(transitive) To apply a coat of primer paint to.

To be renewed.

(intransitive) To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.

To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed.

To apply priming to (a musket or cannon); to apply a primer to (a metallic cartridge).

To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to coach.

To trim or prune.

(math) To mark with a prime mark.

First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary.

First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister.

First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.

Early; blooming; being in the first stage.

Lecherous; lustful; lewd.

Marked or distinguished by a mark (´) called a prime mark.

Divisible by no number except itself or unity; as, 7 is a prime number.

The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring.

The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection.

That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.

The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.

The first of the chief guards.

Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; - so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1.

To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.

To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.

To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief.

To trim or prune, as trees.

To mark with a prime mark.

To be renewed, or as at first.

To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.

To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; - said of a steam boiler.

A number that has no factor but itself and 1

The period of greatest prosperity or productivity

The second canonical hour; about 6 a.m.

The time of maturity when power and vigor are greatest

Insert a primer into (a gun, mine, charge, etc.) preparatory to detonation or firing;

Cover with a primer; apply a primer to

Fill with priming liquid;

First in rank or degree;

Used of the first or originating agent;

Of superior grade;

Of or relating to or being an integer that cannot be factored into other integers;

At the best stage;