noun
prelude
PREHL-yood
noun
1
An event or action that comes before and introduces something bigger.
"The border skirmishes turned out to be a prelude to full-scale war."
"Their quiet argument was a prelude to a much bigger falling-out."
2
A short piece of music that introduces a longer work, or stands on its own.
"She played a Chopin prelude before the main recital."
How to Use Prelude
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that comes first and hints at, or leads into, what follows — used both for music and for events.
Common pairings
a prelude to
piano prelude
Word Forms
preluded past tense, preludes plural, preludes singular
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The border skirmishes turned out to be a _____ to full-scale war.
Etymology
From Middle French prélude, from Medieval Latin preludium, ultimately from Latin praeludere ("to play beforehand").