prior

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++pri·or1 /ˈpraɪə $ praɪr/ ●●○ W3 AWL adjective  1  BUSY/NOT AVAILABLEexisting or arranged before something else or before the present situation 先前的；较早的；事先安排的 SYN previous You do not need any prior knowledge of the subject. 你无需事先具备该方面的知识。 Changes may not be made without the prior approval of the council. 未经委员会事先同意，不得作出改变。 Vegetarian meals are provided by prior agreement. 经事先协商可提供素食。 Some prior experience with the software is needed. 要求事先熟悉这个软件。2  prior warning/notice BEFOREa warning or announcement made before something happens 预先警告/通知 The society must give customers prior notice before changing the cost. 调整费用之前协会必须预先通知客户。 The bomb exploded without any prior warning. 没有任何预先警告，炸弹就爆炸了。3  prior to something formalBEFORE before 在某事之前，先于某事 All the arrangements should be completed prior to your departure. 你离开之前一切都要安排好。4  prior claim a person’s right to something which is considered more important than another person’s right to the same thing 优先权 His own children have a prior claim to the business. 他自己的孩子可以优先获得这家企业。n COLLOCATIONSnounsprior knowledgeHe denied that he had prior knowledge of the robbery.prior approval/consent/permissionA sale of the factory will need the prior approval of shareholders.prior agreementWe will not disclose this information without your prior agreement.prior experienceHe had no prior experience of teaching.a prior engagement formal (=an event that you have already promised to attend)The prime minister was unable to attend owing to a prior engagement.phrasesby prior arrangementVisitors can tour the burial tombs by prior arrangement.

Examples from the Corpus

prior• The databases often contain Social Security numbers, dates of birth and current and prior addresses.• Indeed, some insurance companies have tried to do this by requiring prior approval for treatment.• Pets are permitted only by prior arrangement with the management.• Vegetarian meals are provided by prior arrangement.• A Class 4 transaction will normally require the prior consent of the company in a general meeting.• The tenant must get the prior consent of the landlord before doing any redecorating in the flat.• Johnson had two prior convictions for residential burglaries and a history of petty crimes.• Most applicants had no prior experience of working with children.• The phone company is required to give you prior notice before disconnecting your service.• Although Clinton won New Jersey in 1992, Republicans had carried the state in the six prior presidential elections.• The airline says that some flights may be cancelled without prior warning.

Related topics: Christianity

prior2 noun [countable]  1. RRCthe man in charge of a priory 小修道院男院长2. RRCthe priest next in rank to the person in charge of an abbey 大修道院副院长3  informal a previous occasion when someone was found guilty of a crime 犯罪前科 two priors for homicide 两次蓄意杀人的前科

Examples from the Corpus

prior• Ideally, eligibility for membership and the verification thereof should have been established prior to the process of resettlement commencing.• After education at Oxford, he became the greatest of all the priors at Bridlington.From Longman Business Dictionarypriorpri‧or /ˈpraɪəpraɪr/ adjective [only before a noun] coming before something is finally decided, agreed etcMost firms requireprior approval of analysts’ personal trades before selling stock to them.Sales are expected to be $62 million, up slightly from $60 million in the prior year.prior toThose calculations are based on AT&T’s average stock price prior to a shareholder meeting.Origin prior1 (1700-1800) Latin “earlier, older, higher in rank”, from Latin pri “before” prior2 1. (1900-2000) → PRIOR12. (1000-1100) Medieval Latin Latin (adjective); → PRIOR1

pri·or1 adjective →n COLLOCATIONS1prior2 nounLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

or the before else something or existing before Corpus Business arranged

prior

I

pri‧or¹ W3 AC /ˈpraɪə $ praɪr/ adjective1. existing or arranged before something else or before the present situation
   SYN  previous:
    You do not need any prior knowledge of the subject.
    Changes may not be made without the prior approval of the council.
    Vegetarian meals are provided by prior agreement.
    Some prior experience with the software is needed.
2. prior warning/notice a warning or announcement made before something happens:
    The society must give customers prior notice before changing the cost.
    The bomb exploded without any prior warning.
3. prior to something formal before:
    All the arrangements should be completed prior to your departure.
4. prior claim a person’s right to something which is considered more important than another person’s right to the same thing:
    His own children have a prior claim to the business.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ nouns
   ▪ prior knowledge He denied that he had prior knowledge of the robbery.
   ▪ prior approval/consent/permission A sale of the factory will need the prior approval of shareholders.
   ▪ prior agreement We will not disclose this information without your prior agreement.
   ▪ prior experience He had no prior experience of teaching.
   ▪ a prior engagement formal (=an event that you have already promised to attend) The Prime Minister was unable to attend owing to a prior engagement.
■ phrases
   ▪ by prior arrangement Visitors can tour the burial tombs by prior arrangement.

II

prior² noun [countable]1. the man in charge of a priory
2. the priest next in rank to the person in charge of an abbey
3. informal a previous occasion when someone was found guilty of a crime:
    two priors for homicide