Answer:

prime

Answer	Crossword Clue
PRIME	Of fine quality
PRIME	2 or 3, but not 4
PRIME	Beef designation

PRIME	Meat rating
PRIME	Number like 3 or 13
PRIME	Like 7 or 17
PRIME	High-quality
PRIME	Heyday
PRIME	Apply a basecoat to
PRIME	Most important
PRIME	Fed concern

PRIME	Get ready to paint
PRIME	Rate in the news
PRIME	Choice
PRIME	Rate in the financial pages
PRIME	Time of your life
PRIME	.. minister
PRIME	First-rate
PRIME	Much-watched interest rate

PRIME	Like top-quality beef
PRIME	Steak rating, and word that can precede the first words of the answers to starred clues
PRIME	Prepare the engine
PRIME	Top quality, as beef
PRIME	Word before cut or time
PRIME	Highest grade?
PRIME	Best rate
PRIME	Like 2 or 7, but not 27

PRIME	Cut or time
PRIME	Kind of rib or minister
PRIME	Ready
PRIME	Prepare for painting
PRIME	Word before rate or time
PRIME	Beef rating
PRIME	Steak grade
PRIME	Beef grade

PRIME	Word before number or rate
PRIME	Highest-quality
PRIME	Principal
PRIME	Best-quality
PRIME	Steak designation