priming

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act of one that primes.
2. n. The explosive used to ignite a charge.
3. n. A preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In gunnery and blasting, the act of applying the powder, percussion-cap, or other material used to ignite the charge; hence, the powder or cap itself.
2. n. Figuratively, anything as small relatively to something else as the gun-priming is relatively to the charge: as, his crop isn't a priming to mine.
3. n. In painting, the first layer of paint, size, or other material given to any surface as a ground. It may be of oil-color, and is then non-absorbent, or of chalk or plaster mixed with animal glue, and is then absorbent.
4. n. In steam-engines: Hot water carried along by the steam from the boiler into the cylinder.
5. n. The carrying of such water from the boiler into the cylinder.
6. n. In tobacco-growing: The act of gathering an instalment of leaves.
7. n. The leaves of one of the gatherings. See prime, 3 .
8. n. In brewing, an addition of sugar to the beer in the settling back, furnishing material for further fermentation.

Wiktionary

1. n. psychology The implicit memory effect in which exposure to a stimulus influences response to a subsequent stimulus.
2. n. A substance used as a primer.
3. n. The powder or other combustible used to communicate fire to a charge of gunpowder, as in a firearm.
4. n. The first coating of colour, size, etc. laid on canvas, or on a building or other surface.
5. n. The carrying over of water, with the steam, from the boiler, as into the cylinder.
6. v. present participle of prime.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The powder or other combustible used to communicate fire to a charge of gunpowder, as in a firearm.
2. n. (Paint.) The first coating of color, size, or the like, laid on canvas, or on a building, or other surface.
3. n. (Steam Eng.) The carrying over of water, with the steam, from the boiler, as into the cylinder.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface
2. n. the act of making something ready
3. n. any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant