principal和prime有什么区别

同学是要来做填空题还是单纯想分辨这两个单词呢？
principle只能作名词使用，美国韦式词典给出如下定义：

1. a moral rule or belief that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your action 即准则，规范的意思
2. a basic truth or theory : an idea that forms the basis of something 即道义的意思
3. a law or fact of nature that explains how something works or why something happens 译作原理。

Prime词义则较为丰富，既可以作为名词也可以作为形容词使用
作名词韦式词典给出如下解释：the period in life when a person is best in health, strength, etc. : the most active or successful time of a person's life。我理解为最好的年华意思
做形容词词典解释：
most important；of the highest quality or value，从此释义可得大概和primary，rudimentary同义。

有具体语境上用法的困惑可以追问哈