first

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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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determiner, ordinal number, adverb, noun
determiner
, ordinal number
1 happening or coming before all other similar things or people; 1st: his first wife + It was the first time they had ever met. + I didn't take the first bus. + students in their first year at college + your first impressions + She resolved to do it at the first (= earliest) opportunity. + King Edward I (= said as 'King Edward the First')
2 the most important or best: Your first duty is to your family. + She won first prize in the competition. + an issue of the first importance
Idioms see ORDER n.
+ adverb
1 before anyone or anything else; at the beginning: 'Do you want a drink?' 'I'll finish my work first.' + First I had to decide what to wear. + Who came first in the race (= who won)? + It plunged nose first into the river.
2 for the first time: When did you first meet him?
3 used to introduce the first of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing
Synonym: FIRSTLY
This method has two advantages: first it is cheaper and secondly it is quicker.
4 used to emphasize that you are determined not to do sth: She swore that she wouldn't apologize-she'd die first!
Idioms: at first at or in the beginning: I didn't like the job much at first. + At first I thought he was shy, but then I discovered he was just not interested in other people. + (saying) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. - FIRSTLY
come first to be considered more important than anything else: In any decision she makes, her family always comes first.
first and foremost more than anything else: He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer.
first and last in every way that is important; completely: She regarded herself, first and last, as a musician.
first come, first served (saying) people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive: Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.
first of all
1 before doing anything else; at the beginning: First of all, let me ask you something.
2 as the most important thing: The content of any article needs, first of all, to be relevant to the reader. - FIRSTLY
first off (informal, especially BrE) before anything else: First off, let's see how much it'll cost.
first up (BrE, informal) to start with; before anything else
put sb/sth first to consider sb/sth to be more important than anyone/anything else: She always puts her children first.
more at HEAD n., SAFETY
+ noun
1 (the first) [C] (plural the first) the first person or thing mentioned; the first person or thing to do a particular thing: I was the first in my family to go to college. + Sheila and Jim were the first to arrive. + I'd be the first to admit (= I will most willingly admit) I might be wrong. + The first I heard about the wedding (= the first time I became aware of it) was when I saw it in the local paper.
2 [C, usually sing.] an achievement, event, etc., never done or experienced before: We went on a cruise, a first for both of us.
3 (also first gear) [U] the lowest GEAR on a car, bicycle, etc. that you use when you are moving slowly: He stuck the car in first and revved.
4 [C] ~ (in sth) the highest level of university degree at British universities: She got a first in maths at Exeter.
Compare: SECOND, THIRD
Idioms: first among equals the person or thing with the highest status in a group
from the (very) first from the beginning: They were attracted to each other from the first.
from first to last from beginning to end; during the whole time: It's a fine performance that commands attention from first to last.

Thesaurus dictionary

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adj.

1 foremost, leading, chief, head, premier, prime, primary, principal, pre-eminent:

The Kennedys were regarded as among 'the first people of Boston'. I heard that your son is now first violinist in the Philharmonic.

2 earliest, original, senior, oldest; initial, beginning, maiden, opening:

The first clock in England was made about 1288. The first assault resulted in great loss of life.

3 fundamental, elementary, basic, primary, cardinal, key, essential:

It is necessary to return to first principles.

adv.

4 before, in front, earliest, beforehand, ahead, sooner, foremost:

Bannister came in first.

5 in the first place, firstly, before all or anything else, initially, at the outset or beginning, to begin or start with, from the start, Colloq first off:

First, I want to thank you all for coming to my party.

n.

6 beginning, start, inception, commencement, outset, Colloq word go:

I knew you'd win from the first.

7 first place, blue ribbon, gold (medal), triumph, victory; win:

Britain achieved three firsts in yesterday's athletics meeting.

8 at first. initially, in the beginning, at the start or outset, Colloq from the word go:

I didn't believe him at first.

Collocation dictionary

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¹ (also first gear) lowest gear on a bicycle/vehicle

VERB + FIRST

engage

She engaged first gear and pulled off.

| get into, move into, slam into

As he moved into first the gear-lever knob came off in his hand.

| put sth into

Put the car into first and pull off slowly.

| find

It's very difficult to find first on this car.

PREP.

in ~

There was something wrong with the gearbox and I had to drive all the way home in first.

² highest level of university degree

ADJ.

double

She did Philosophy and English Literature and got a double first.

VERB + FIRST

be awarded, gain, get, obtain

PREP.

~ in

He got a first in modern history.

Concise English dictionary

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firstsfɜrst /fɜːst
noun
+the first or highest in an ordering or series
+the first element in a countable series
+the time at which something is supposed to begin
+the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)
+an honours degree of the highest class
+the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
adj.
+preceding all others in time or space or degree
+indicating the beginning unit in a series
+serving to set in motion
+serving to begin
+ranking above all others
+highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
+being the gear producing the lowest drive speed
adv.
+before anything else
+the initial time
+before another in time, space, or importance
+prominently forward

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