Dictionary definition · first
noun
- the first or highest in an ordering or series"He wanted to be the first"
- the first element in a countable series"the first of the month"
- the time at which something is supposed to begin"they got an early start"
- 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)
adjective
- preceding all others in time or space or degree"the first house on the right"
- highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections"first soprano"
- serving to begin"the beginning canto of the poem"
- ranking above all others"was first in her class"
adverb
- before anything else"first we must consider the garter snake"
- the initial time"when Felix first saw a garter snake"
- before another in time, space, or importance"I was here first"
- prominently forward"he put his best foot foremost"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).