prelude

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

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

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

preliterate, preload, prelog, prelogical thinking, preloved, prelude, preludin, prelusion, prelusive, prem, prem.

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

SYNONYMS FOR prelude

1 introduction, opening, beginning.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prelude ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prelude

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

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