Primer vs. Paint — What's the Difference?

A substance used as a preparatory coat on wood, metal, or canvas, especially to prevent the absorption of subsequent layers of paint or the development of rust

Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition that, after application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture to objects.

A cap or cylinder containing a compound which responds to friction or an electrical impulse and ignites the charge in a cartridge or explosive

A liquid mixture, usually of a solid pigment in a liquid vehicle, used as a decorative or protective coating.

A small pump for pumping fuel to prime an internal combustion engine, especially in an aircraft

The thin dry film formed by such a mixture when applied to a surface.

A molecule that serves as a starting material for a polymerization process

The solid pigment before it is mixed with a vehicle.

An elementary textbook that serves as an introduction to a subject of study or is used for teaching children to read

A cosmetic, such as rouge, that is used to give color to the face; makeup.

An elementary textbook for teaching children to read.

(Basketball) The free throw lane.

A book that covers the basic elements of a subject.

A Paint horse.

A cap or tube containing a small amount of explosive used to detonate the main explosive charge of a firearm or mine.

(Slang) The face cards in a deck of cards

An undercoat of paint or size applied to prepare a surface, as for painting.

To make (a picture) with paints.

(Genetics) A segment of DNA or RNA that is complementary to a given DNA sequence and that is needed to initiate replication by DNA polymerase.

To represent in a picture with paints.

A prayer or devotional book intended for laity, initially an abridgment of the breviary and manual including the hours of the Virgin Mary, 15 gradual and 7 penitential psalms, the litany, the placebo and dirige forming the office of the dead, and the commendations.

To depict vividly in words.

Any of various similar works issued in England for private prayer in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer.

To coat or decorate with paint

A children's book intended to teach literacy: how to read, write, and spell.

To apply cosmetics to.

An introductory text on any subject, particularly basic concepts.

To apply medicine to; swab

(New Zealand) An elementary school class; an elementary school student. (No longer used.)

To shine a laser beam on, especially in order to designate a target for laser-guided munitions.

Any substance or device, such as priming wire or blasting cap, used to ignite gunpowder or other explosive.

To practice the art of painting pictures.

A person who primes explosives.

To cover something with paint.

A substance used to prime wood, metal, etc. in preparation for painting.

To apply cosmetics to oneself

A layer of such a substance.

To serve as a surface to be coated with paint

A layer of makeup that goes beneath the foundation; undermakeup.

A substance that is applied as a liquid or paste, and dries into a solid coating that protects or adds color/colour to an object or surface to which it has been applied.

A person who primes wood, metal, etc.

(in the plural) A set of containers or blocks of paint of different colors/colours, used for painting pictures.

A molecule which initiates the synthesis of an enzyme, (especially) a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule which initiates DNA replication.

The free-throw lane, construed with the.

A pheromone which interacts first with the endocrine system.

Paintballs.

A device used to prime an internal combustion engine with gasoline, (especially) in airplanes.

A face card (king, queen, or jack).

A person who prunes trees.

Graphics drawn using an input device, not scanned or generated.

(obsolete) First in time, initial, early.

(uncountable) Makeup.

(obsolete) First in importance, premier.

Tattoo work.

First in position, foremost.

(dated) Any substance fixed with latex to harden it.

One who, or that which, primes

The appearance of an object on a radar screen.

Originally, a small prayer book for church service, containing the little office of the Virgin Mary; also, a work of elementary religious instruction.

(transitive) To apply paint to.

A small elementary book for teaching children to read; a reading or spelling book for a beginner.

(transitive) To apply in the manner that paint is applied.

A kind of type, of which there are two species; one, called long primer, intermediate in size between bourgeois and small pica [see Long primer]; the other, called great primer, larger than pica.

To apply with a brush in order to treat some body part.

First; original; primary.

(transitive) To cover (something) with spots of colour, like paint.

An introductory textbook

(transitive) To create (an image) with paints.

Any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant

(intransitive) To practise the art of painting pictures.

The first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface

To draw an element in a graphical user interface.

To depict or portray.

(intransitive) To color one's face by way of beautifying it.

To direct a radar beam toward.

To cover with coloring matter; to apply paint to; as, to paint a house, a signboard, etc.

To color, stain, or tinge; to adorn or beautify with colors; to diversify with colors.

To form in colors a figure or likeness of on a flat surface, as upon canvas; to represent by means of colors or hues; to exhibit in a tinted image; to portray with paints; as, to paint a portrait or a landscape.

To represent or exhibit to the mind; to describe vividly; to delineate; to image; to depict; as, to paint a political opponent as a traitor.

To practice the art of painting; as, the artist paints well.

To color one's face by way of beautifying it.

A pigment or coloring substance.

A cosmetic; rouge.

A substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating

(basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court;

Makeup consisting of a pink or red powder applied to the cheeks

Make a painting;

Apply paint to; coat with paint;

Make a painting of;

Apply a liquid to; e.g., paint the gutters with linseed oil