'Preliminary' definitions:
Definition of 'preliminary'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; "a preliminary investigation"
noun
A minor match preceding the main event [syn: preliminary, prelim]
noun
Definition of 'Preliminary'
From: GCIDE
- Preliminary \Pre*lim"i*na*ry\, a. [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. pr['e]liminaire. Cf. Limit.] Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Introductory; preparatory; prefatory; proemial; previous; prior; precedent; antecedent. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Preliminary'
From: GCIDE
- Preliminary \Pre*lim"i*na*ry\, n.; pl. Preliminaries. That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or duel; to take one's preliminaries the year before entering college. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Introduction; preface; prelude. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'preliminary'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- advance,
- advanced,
- antecedent,
- anterior,
- arrangement,
- avant-garde,
- avant-propos,
- basic training,
- beginning,
- breakthrough,
- briefing,
- chief,
- clearing the decks,
- coming out,
- curtain raiser,
- debut,
- embarkation,
- embarkment,
- equipment,
- exordial,
- exordium,
- exploratory,
- familiarization,
- first,
- first appearance,
- fixing,
- floating,
- flotation,
- foremost,
- forerunning,
- foreword,
- foundation,
- front matter,
- frontispiece,
- groundwork,
- headmost,
- inaugural,
- inaugural address,
- inauguration,
- induction,
- initial,
- initiation,
- initiatory,
- innovation,
- installation,
- installment,
- introduction,
- introductory,
- launching,
- leading,
- leap,
- maiden speech,
- makeready,
- making ready,
- manufacture,
- mobilization,
- opener,
- opening,
- original,
- overture,
- planning,
- postulate,
- preamble,
- prearrangement,
- precedence,
- precedent,
- preceding,
- precessional,
- precursory,
- preface,
- prefatory,
- prefix,
- prefixed,
- prefixture,
- preliminaries,
- preliminary act,
- preliminary step,
- prelude,
- preludial,
- prelusive,
- premise,
- premonitory,
- prep,
- preparation,
- preparatory,
- preparatory study,
- preparing,
- prepositive,
- prepping,
- prerequisite,
- presupposition,
- pretreatment,
- prevenient,
- prior,
- processing,
- prodromal,
- prodrome,
- prodromic,
- proem,
- proemial,
- prolegomena,
- prolegomenon,
- prolepsis,
- prologue,
- propaedeutic,
- protasis,
- provision,
- readying,
- spadework,
- training,
- treatment,
- trial,
- tryout,
- unveiling,
- verse,
- voluntary,
- warm-up