preliminary

¹pre·lim·i·nary

noun \pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē\

plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies

Definition of PRELIMINARY

: something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as a : a preliminary scholastic examination b plural British : front matter c : a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race) d : a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)

Examples of PRELIMINARY

1. <a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions>

Origin of PRELIMINARY

French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold

First Known Use: 1656

Related to PRELIMINARY

Synonyms: curtain-raiser, overture, preamble, prelude, prologue (also prolog), warm-up

Related Words: countdown, run-up [chiefly British]; lead-in; kickoff, start

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Rhymes with PRELIMINARY

apothecary, bicentenary, confectionary, confectionery, consigliere, constabulary, contemporary, deflationary, disciplinary, discretionary, diversionary, epistolary, exclusionary, expansionary, extemporary, extraordinary, fiduciary, hereditary, illusionary, imaginary, incendiary, inflationary, insanitary, intercalary, involuntary, itinerary, judiciary, lending library, marionberry, obituary, olallieberry, on the contrary, pecuniary, pituitary, precautionary, presidiary, probationary, proprietary, provisionary, reactionary, subliterary, subsidiary, tercentenary, unnecessary, veterinary, vocabulary, voluptuary