prelude

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

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

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 formsprel·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

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

Word Origin and History for prelude

prelude

1560s, from Middle French prélude "notes sung or played to test the voice or instrument" (1530s), from Medieval Latin preludium "prelude, preliminary," from Latin praeludere "to play beforehand for practice, preface," from prae- "before" (see pre-) + ludere "to play" (see ludicrous). Purely musical sense first attested in English 1650s. Related: Prelusion.

prelude

noun

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

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

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of prelude

Examples from the Web for prelude

prelude

noun

verb

Word Origin for prelude

prelude