Anglais

primitive

gb/pɹˈɪmɪtɪv/ us/pɹˈɪmɪtɪv/
B1 Anglais
~ 3600
Sens
0 sens
adjective B1 property
1

Simple and undeveloped

Very simple and not modern or advanced.

Schéma d’usage : [something] is primitive
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'primitive' with 'primary'. 'Primary' means 'main' or 'first', while 'primitive' means 'simple and not developed'.
Synonymes
basic (Implies simplicity without necessarily being old-fashioned or undeveloped.) | rudimentary (Suggests the most basic form, often incomplete or underdeveloped.)
Antonymes
advanced (Describes something highly developed or modern, the opposite of primitive.) | sophisticated (Implies complexity and refinement, contrasting with primitive's simplicity.)
Collocations
primitive tools |primitive technology |primitive housing |primitive methods
Thèmes
technology |history |society |core_vocabulary
Exemples
  • The tribe still uses primitive tools made of stone.
  • Medical care in the area is very primitive compared to the city.
  • Early computers were primitive by today's standards.
  • They lived in a primitive hut in the forest.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • We cooked food on a primitive fire.
  • The village has primitive houses.
  • He made a primitive boat from wood.
  • The old phone looks primitive now.
Nom technical B2 entity
2

An early human or animal form

An early kind of human or animal that lived a long time ago.

Synonymes
ancestor (Refers to a predecessor, but not necessarily primitive in development.)
Antonymes
modern human (Refers to current, anatomically developed humans.)
Collocations
prehistoric primitives |evolutionary primitives
Thèmes
science |history |animals
Exemples
  • Anthropologists discovered the remains of a primitive in the cave.
  • The fossil shows features typical of early primates and other primitives.
  • Some scientists study primitives to understand human evolution.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • They found bones of a primitive.
  • The museum has a picture of a primitive.
  • A primitive lived many years ago.
adjective technical B2 property
3

Existing at an early stage

From an early time in history or growth.

Schéma d’usage : [something] is primitive
Synonymes
early (Can mean occurring near the start, but less tied to evolutionary context.)
Antonymes
developed (Indicates later stages with more complexity.)
Collocations
primitive species |primitive culture
Thèmes
science |history |time
Exemples
  • Primitive mammals were small and nocturnal.
  • The language has primitive features no longer found in related languages.
  • These fossils come from a primitive stage of plant evolution.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The fish is a primitive animal.
  • Primitive people lived many years ago.
  • This plant is from a primitive time.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
primitive
API
GB/pɹˈɪmɪtɪv/
US/pɹˈɪmɪtɪv/
Syllabes et accentuation
prim - it - ive (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (prim)
Formes du mot
Adjective
  • Base: primitive
Noun
  • Base: primitive
  • Plural: primitives
Famille de mots
Forms
primitives noun
Core family
primitively adverb C1 primitiveness noun
Advanced or less common
primitivism noun primitivist noun
Expressions

in a primitive state

1
/ˈɪn ə pɹˈɪmɪtɪv stˈeɪt/
fixed phrase

In a basic, undeveloped condition

In a simple way without modern things or changes.

Exemples
  • The house was left in a primitive state after years of neglect.
  • Much of the rural area remains in a primitive state.

primitive instincts

2
/pɹˈɪmɪtɪv ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
fixed phrase

Basic natural urges from early times

Natural feelings or needs that people had from very early times.

Exemples
  • Fear of the dark is one of our primitive instincts.
  • Primitive instincts can take over in dangerous situations.

Bon retour parmi nous !

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