English

Noun

primitive concept ‎(plural primitive concepts)

1. A concept that cannot be defined in terms of other concepts.
   • 1936, Arnold Dresden, An Invitation to Mathematics:

     Every concept admitted in geometry is either a primitive concept, or else is obtained by a definition in terms of the primitive concepts.

   • 2005, Rolf Engelbrecht, A. Geissbuhler, C. Lovis, Connecting Medical Informatics and Bio-Informatics:

     A primitive concept is essential to the representation of the specialty. A defined concept is built from one or more primitive concepts and one or more relationships.