1. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface.
2. Music
a. A piece or movement that serves as an introduction to another section or composition and establishes the key, such as one that precedes a fugue, opens a suite, or precedes a church service.
b. A similar but independent composition for the piano.
c. The overture to an oratorio, opera, or act of an opera.
d. A short composition of the 1400s and early 1500s written in a free style, usually for keyboard.
v.prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing, prel·udes
v.tr.
1. To serve as a prelude to.
2. To introduce with or as if with a prelude.
v.intr.
To serve as a prelude or introduction.
[Medieval Latin praelūdium, from Latin praelūdere, to play beforehand : prae-, pre- + lūdere, to play; see leid- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
prel′ud′ern.
pre·lu′di·al(prĭ-lo͞o′dē-əl) adj.
Usage Note: How should prelude be pronounced? In our 2015 survey, 72 percent of the Usage Panel preferred a long a (pronounced "pray") and 25 percent a short e (pronounced "prell") for the first syllable. The absence or presence of a glide—a short (y) sound—after coronal consonants such as d, t, or l is a regional variation. People who pronounce duty as (do͞o′tē) also tend to omit the glide after the l in prelude: (prā′lo͞od′). Those who pronounce duty as (dyo͞o′tē) will tend to include the glide: (prā′lyo͞od′).
a. a piece of music that precedes a fugue, or forms the first movement of a suite, or an introduction to an act in an opera, etc
b. (esp for piano) a self-contained piece of music
2. something serving as an introduction or preceding event, occurrence, etc
vb
3. to serve as a prelude to (something)
4. (tr) to introduce by a prelude
[C16: (n) from Medieval Latin praelūdium, from prae before + -lūdium entertainment, from Latin lūdus play; (vb) from Late Latin praelūdere to play beforehand, rehearse, from lūdere to play]
prelude - something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
inception, origination, origin - an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events
2.
prelude - music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera
music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
chorale prelude - a composition for organ using a chorale as a basis for variations
Verb
1.
prelude - serve as a prelude or opening to
serve, function - serve a purpose, role, or function; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"
2.
prelude - play as a prelude
music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest"
spiel, play - replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
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