What is the meaning of first?

noun

• The first or highest in an ordering or series.
  • usage: "He wanted to be the first"
  • synonyms: number one
• The first element in a countable series.
  • usage: "the first of the month"
  • synonyms: number one, number 1
• The time at which something is supposed to begin.
  • usage: "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her"
  • synonyms: beginning, commencement, outset, get-go, start, kickoff, starting time, showtime, offset
• 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.
  • synonyms: first base
• An honours degree of the highest class.
  • synonyms: first-class honours degree
• The lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving.
  • synonyms: first gear, low gear, low

adjective

• Preceding all others in time or space or degree.
  • usage: "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.
  • synonyms: 1st
• Serving to set in motion.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: inaugural, initiative, initiatory, maiden
• Serving to begin.
  • usage: "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse"
  • synonyms: beginning
• Ranking above all others.
  • usage: "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"
  • synonyms: foremost, world-class
• Highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections.
  • usage: "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn"

adverb

• Before anything else.
  • usage: "first we must consider the garter snake"
  • synonyms: firstly, foremost, first of all, first off
• The initial time.
  • usage: "when Felix first saw a garter snake"
  • synonyms: for the first time
• Before another in time, space, or importance.
  • usage: "I was here first"; "let's do this job first"
• Prominently forward.
  • usage: "he put his best foot foremost"
  • synonyms: foremost