prelude
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++prel·ude /ˈpreljuːd/ noun [countable] 1 a prelude to something BEFOREif an event is a prelude to a more important event, it happens just before it and makes people expect it 某事物的序幕[前奏，开端] Living together as a prelude to marriage is now considered acceptable in many countries. 婚前同居如今在许多国家都已被接受。2 APMa short piece of music, especially one played at the beginning of a longer musical piece or before a church ceremony 〔音乐作品的〕前奏曲序曲 Chopin’s Preludes 肖邦的前奏曲 an organ prelude 管风琴前奏曲
Examples from the Corpus
prelude• This identification was emphasized in 1483 when Gloucester took the precaution of arresting lord Stanley as a prelude to his usurpation.• Computer simulations are only mechanical extensions of this verbal power, which manipulates signs and symbols as a prelude to manipulating things.• Could this be a prelude to a trade war even more destructive of world prosperity than a military war?• The search for the seat of divinity in man and nature is only a prelude to the aspiration for transcendence.• This outing was a prelude to many more.• The squall was a prelude to a fully-fledged gale, heralded well in advance by warnings from the meteorologists.• Also, it is considered by many as an anachronism, mere prelude to a party on the river for Hooray Henrys.Origin prelude (1500-1600) French prélude, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere “to play before”prel·ude nounChineseSyllable
a prelude if more to Corpus is an event a
prelude
prel‧ude /ˈpreljuːd/
noun [countable]
Living together as a prelude to marriage is now considered acceptable in many countries.
2. a short piece of music, especially one played at the beginning of a longer musical piece or before a church ceremony:
Chopin’s Preludes
an organ prelude
prel‧ude /ˈpreljuːd/
noun [countable] Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: prélude, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere 'to play before'
1. a prelude to something if an event is a prelude to a more important event, it happens just before it and makes people expect it:Language: French
Origin: prélude, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere 'to play before'
2. a short piece of music, especially one played at the beginning of a longer musical piece or before a church ceremony: