Definition of "prim"

prim¹

/pɹɪm/

adjective
comparative primmer, superlative primmest
1. prudish, straight-laced
  Quotations
  God damn it, what does she want of me, this sad, beautiful bridgeplayer of the Fifth Floor, with her air of lost love and her prim carnality? After seven years of her, Brotherhood still had no idea. He'd be out touring the stations, he'd be in Bongabonga land. He'd not speak or write to her for months. Yet he'd hardly unpacked his toothbrush before she was in his arms, demanding him with her sad and hungry eyes.
  1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy
2. formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice
  Quotations
  Philemon was in great surprise,⁠And hardly could believe his eyes,Amaz'd to see her look so prim;And she admir'd as much at him.
  1708, [Jonathan Swift], “(please specify the page)”, in Baucis and Philemon; a Poem. […], London: […] H. Hills, […], published 1709
verb
third-person singular simple present prims, present participle primming, simple past and past participle primmed
1. (dated) To make affectedly precise or proper.
2. (dated) To dress or act smartly.

/pɹɪm/