1. (a.) Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.

2. (a.) Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.

3. (a.) Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.

4. (adv.) Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles.

5. (n.) The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.