prelude

[ prel-yood, preyl-, prey-lood, pree- ]

/ ˈprɛl yud, ˈpreɪl-, ˈpreɪ lud, ˈpri- /

See synonyms for prelude on Thesaurus.com

noun

a preliminary to an action, event, condition, or work of broader scope and higher importance.

any action, event, comment, etc. that precedes something else.

Music.

a relatively short, independent instrumental composition, free in form and resembling an improvisation.
a piece that precedes a more important movement.
the overture to an opera.
an independent piece, of moderate length, sometimes used as an introduction to a fugue.
music opening a church service; an introductory voluntary.

verb (used with object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

to serve as a prelude or introduction to.

to introduce by a prelude.

to play as a prelude.

verb (used without object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

to serve as a prelude.

to give a prelude.

to play a prelude.

SYNONYMS FOR prelude

1 introduction, opening, beginning.

See synonyms for prelude on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of prelude

1555–65; (noun) <Medieval Latin praelūdium, equivalent to prae-pre- + -lūdium play; compare Latin lūdus play; (v.) <Latin praelūdere to play beforehand

OTHER WORDS FROM prelude

prel·ud·er, nounpre·lu·di·al

[pri-loo-dee-uhl], /prɪˈlu di əl/, pre·lu·di·ous, adjectivepre·lu·di·ous·ly, adverbun·prel·ud·ed, adjective

Words nearby prelude

preload, Prelog, prelogical thinking, Prelone, preloved, prelude, Preludin, prelusion, prelusive, prem., premalignant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for prelude

It felt like a prelude, a 26-year-old entering the mastery phase of stardom.
John Wall gave the Wizards their last great memory. Then it all fell apart.|Jerry Brewer|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
Perhaps as a prelude to this attempt, researchers just published a number of new studies about the geochemistry of Bennu today in the journals Science and Science Advances, providing some of the biggest revelations to date.
Asteroid Bennu may have been home to ancient water flows|Neel Patel|October 8, 2020|MIT Technology Review
It may indicate that the Kremlin sees the current intensive confrontation … as a prelude to an inevitable conflict.
Spy Wars: The Hidden Foe America Must Defeat to Save Its Democracy|Charu Kasturi|September 13, 2020|Ozy
There was an entryway near here to another courtyard, itself a prelude to the heart of the main temple.
Fighting Back With Faith: Inside the Yezidis’ Iraqi Temple|Michael Luongo|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This could be a prelude to peace talks—or intensified fighting.
Shakeup In the Ukraine Rebel High Command|Jamie Dettmer|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We should hope this only sounds like a prelude to an intervention.
Here's What It's Like to Fight Vitali Klitschko, Ukraine’s Revolutionary Champ|Michael Daly|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Marguerite hoped it would be the prelude to a book she wanted to write, and asked if I could get it published somewhere.
Oswald’s Mother Was a Thoroughly Disagreeable Piece of Work|Steve North|November 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As is, they now look ominously instead like that monopoly's prelude and farcical first act.
The Obamacare Death Spiral|David Frum|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Current topics, too, are well worthy constant study, and these can be used as a sort of prelude to any regular program.
Woman's Club Work and Programs|Caroline French Benton
I was always conscious of sounds in Nature which my ears could not hear, that I caught but a prelude to a strain.
A History of American Literature Since 1870|Fred Lewis Pattee
The explosion may be only a trick to, empty the camp, as a prelude to further mischief.
The Young Engineers in Arizona|H. Irving Hancock
For Clark the capture of Vincennes was to be a prelude to taking Detroit.
The Road to Independence: Virginia 1763-1783|Virginia State Dept. of Education
This discovery was a prelude to a certain and horrible death.
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth|Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for prelude

prelude

/ (ˈprɛljuːd) /

noun

a piece of music that precedes a fugue, or forms the first movement of a suite, or an introduction to an act in an opera, etc
(esp for piano) a self-contained piece of music

something serving as an introduction or preceding event, occurrence, etc

verb

to serve as a prelude to (something)

(tr) to introduce by a prelude

Derived forms of prelude

preluder (prɪˈljuːdə, ˈprɛljʊdə), nounpreludial, adjectiveprelusion (prɪˈljuːʒən), nounprelusive (prɪˈljuːsɪv) or prelusory (prɪˈljuːsərɪ), adjective

prelusively or prelusorily, adverb

Word Origin for prelude

C16: (n) from Medieval Latin praelūdium, from prae before + -lūdium entertainment, from Latin lūdus play; (vb) from Late Latin praelūdere to play beforehand, rehearse, from lūdere to play

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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prelude

noun

verb (used with object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

verb (used without object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR prelude

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of prelude

OTHER WORDS FROM prelude

Words nearby prelude

Example sentences from the Web for prelude

British Dictionary definitions for prelude

noun

verb

Derived forms of prelude

Word Origin for prelude

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

prelude

noun

verb (used with object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

verb (used without object), prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing.

SYNONYMS FOR prelude

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of prelude

OTHER WORDS FROM prelude

Words nearby prelude

Words related to prelude

Example sentences from the Web for prelude

British Dictionary definitions for prelude

noun

verb

Derived forms of prelude

Word Origin for prelude