prelude

noun
UK: /ˈpreljuːd/
US: /ˈpreljuːd/

  1. An action or event that happens before something else and introduces it.

    1. The rain was a prelude to the big storm later that night.
    2. The band played a short prelude before the main performance to set the mood.

  2. An introductory piece of music, most commonly for piano.

    1. She played a beautiful prelude before the concert began.
    2. The prelude created a peaceful atmosphere before the opera started.

Synonyms

prologue overture forerunner preface introduction
prelude verb

  1. To serve as an introduction or lead-in to something else.

    1. The speech was to prelude an important announcement.
    2. Heavy fighting preluded the peace talks.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "prelude" in English means: An action or event that happens before something else and introduces it., An introductory piece of music, most commonly for piano..

The phonetic transcription of "prelude" is /ˈpreljuːd/ in British English and /ˈpreljuːd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "prelude": prologue, overture, forerunner, preface, introduction.

Example usage of "prelude": "The rain was a prelude to the big storm later that night.". More examples on the page.