-
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"
-
indicating the beginning unit in a series
-
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"
-
serving to begin;
"the beginning canto of the poem"
"the first verse"
-
ranking above all others;
"was first in her class"
"the foremost figure among marine artists"
"the top graduate"
-
highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections;
"first soprano"
"the first violin section"
"played first horn"