first first /ˈfɝːst/

adjective

1. () Preceding all others in time, space or degree  ( first )
   preceding all others in time, space or degree
    The first house on the right
   the first house on the right
    The first day of spring
   the first day of spring
    His first political race
   his first political race
    Her first baby
   her first baby
    The first time
   the first time
    The first meetings of the new party
   the first meetings of the new party
    The first phase of his training
   the first phase of his training
   
2. () Indicating the beginning unit in a series  ( 1st , first )
   indicating the beginning unit in a series
     The first place winner received a trophy.
   The first place winner received a trophy.
   
3. () Serving to begin  ( beginning , first )
   serving to begin
    The beginning canto of the poem
   the beginning canto of the poem
    The first verse
   the first verse
   
4. () Serving to set in motion  ( initiative , initiatory , maiden , first , inaugural )
   serving to set in motion
    The magazine's inaugural issue
   the magazine's inaugural issue
    The initiative phase in the negotiations
   the initiative phase in the negotiations
    An initiatory step toward a treaty
   an initiatory step toward a treaty
    His first (or maiden) speech in Congress
   his first (or maiden) speech in Congress
    The liner's maiden voyage
   the liner's maiden voyage
   
5. () Ranking above all others  ( world-class , world-beating , foremost , first )
   ranking above all others
    Was first in her class
   was first in her class
    The foremost figure among marine artists
   the foremost figure among marine artists
    The top graduate
   the top graduate
   
6. Highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections  ( first )
   highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
    First soprano
   first soprano
    The first violin section
   the first violin section
    Played first horn
   played first horn
   

adverb

1. () Before anything else  ( firstly , foremost , first off , first , first of all )
   before anything else
    First we must consider the garter snake
   first we must consider the garter snake
   
2. () The initial time  ( first )
   the initial time
    When Felix first saw a garter snake
   when Felix first saw a garter snake
   
3. () Before another in time, space, or importance  ( first )
   before another in time, space, or importance
    I was here first
   I was here first
    Let's do this job first
   let's do this job first
   
4. () Prominently forward  ( foremost , first )
   prominently forward
    He put his best foot foremost
   he put his best foot foremost
   

noun

1. () The first or highest in an ordering or series  ( number one [Informal] , first )
   the first or highest in an ordering or series
    He wanted to be the first
   He wanted to be the first
   
2. () The first element in a countable series  ( number 1 , number one [Informal] , first )
   the first element in a countable series
    The first of the month
   the first of the month
   
3. () 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)  ( first base , first )
   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)
   
4. () The time at which something is supposed to begin  ( commencement , get-go , offset , first , kickoff , outset , showtime , start , starting time , beginning )
   the time at which something is supposed to begin
    They got an early start
   they got an early start
    She knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
   she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
   
5. The lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving  ( first , first gear , low , low gear )
   the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
   
6. [British] An honours degree of the highest class  ( first [British] , first-class honours degree [Canadian, British] , first-class honors degree [American] )
   an honours degree of the highest class