Dictionary.net

the time at which something begins; "They got an early start"

indicating the beginning unit in a series

the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

(Great Britain) an honours degree of the highest class

the first element in a countable series; "the first of the month"

the first or highest in an ordering or series; "He wanted to be the first"

before anything else; "first we must consider the garter snake"

the initial time; "when Felix first saw a garter snake"

ranking above all others; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"

serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage"

indicating the beginning unit in a series

the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

the first element in a countable series; "the first of the month"

the first or highest in an ordering or series; "He wanted to be the first"

before anything else; "first we must consider the garter snake"

the initial time; "when Felix first saw a garter snake"

ranking above all others; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"

serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage"

preceding all others in time or space or degree; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training"

highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections; "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn"

before another in time, space, or importance; "I was here first"; "let's do this job first"

Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.

Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.

Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.

The beginning.

Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; - much used in composition with adjectives and participles.

The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; - so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.

Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.

Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.

Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.

The beginning.

Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; - much used in composition with adjectives and participles.

The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; - so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.

The beginning.

The ordinal of one; foremost in place, rank, dignity, time, excellence, etc.; earliest; most important; chief.

Before all others in order, place, rank, time, etc.; sooner.

Foremost; preceding all others in place, time, or degree; most eminent; chief.

Before anything else, in time, space, rank, etc.

Before the rest.

Earliest; foremost; chief.

Before all others; earliest; nearest; leading; chief; best.

That which is first.

In the first place; earlier; rather; sooner.

Foremost in place, time, rank, dignity, or excellence.

Before anything else in time, place, rank, consideration, &c. At first, at the beginning. First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end.

Earliest in time; foremost; chief; principal; primary; the ordinal of one.

Before anything else.

adv. Before anything else in time, space, rank, &c.—used in composition with many adjectives and participles.

n. The upper part of a duet, trio, &c., either vocal or instrumental.

The ordinal of one; earliest in time; highest in dignity; great, excellent.

Before anything else, earliest; before any other consideration; at the beginning, at first.