prelude
(noun) music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera
preliminary, overture, prelude
(noun) something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; “training is a necessary preliminary to employment”; “drinks were the overture to dinner”
prelude
(verb) play as a prelude
prelude
(verb) serve as a prelude or opening to
Source: WordNet® 3.1
prelude (plural preludes)
An introductory or preliminary performance or event.
Synonym: preface
(music) A short, free-form piece of music, originally one serving as an introduction to a longer and more complex piece; later, starting with the Romantic period, generally a stand-alone piece. [from 1650s]
Synonyms: intrada, overture
(computing) A standard module or library of subroutines and functions to be imported, generally by default, into a program.
(figurative) A forerunner to anything.
• forestory
prelude (third-person singular simple present preludes, present participle preluding, simple past and past participle preluded)
To introduce something, as a prelude.
To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.
Source: Wiktionary
Pre"lude, n. Etym: [F. prélude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.]
Definition: An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture. The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Ænis Addison. The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact. Whewell.
Syn.
– Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.
Pre*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.] Etym: [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. préluder. See Ludicrous.]
Definition: To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude. The musicians preluded on their instruments. Sir. W. Scott. We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point. Jeffrey.
Pre*lude", v. t.
1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.
2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory. [Music] preluding some great tragedy. Longfellow
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
23 February 2025
(noun) an advantageous purchase; “she got a bargain at the auction”; “the stock was a real buy at that price”
The world’s most expensive coffee costs more than US$700 per kilogram. Asian palm civet – a cat-like creature in Indonesia, eats fruits, including select coffee cherries. It excretes partially digested seeds that produce a smooth, less acidic brew of coffee called kopi luwak.
