primitive

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. very simple and not developed; often lacking modern comforts or technology.

adj. lacking in sophistication or comfort; basic and perhaps uncomfortable.

“The conditions at the mountain camp were very primitive, with no running water.”

“The refugees were forced to live in primitive shelters made of plastic sheets and scrap wood until more permanent housing could be arranged.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a basic part or shape that you use to build more complex things.

n. a fundamental element or basic data type from which more complex structures or functions are derived.

“In this programming language, an integer is a primitive data type.”

“The graphics engine uses geometric primitives like spheres and cubes to render the complex architectural models in real time.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Education Technical · Formal

n. a basic word that other words are made from.

n. a primary word or root from which other words are derived through inflection or affixation.

“The linguist identified the primitive form of the verb before it was changed by modern usage.”

“The study focuses on identifying semantic primitives that appear to be universal across unrelated language families.”