• IPA: /ˈpɹɛl(j)uːd/, /ˈpɹeɪl(j)uːd/, /ˈpɹiːluːd/

prelude (plural preludes)

1. An introductory or preliminary performance or event.

   Synonyms: preface

2. (music) A short, free-form piece of music, originally one serving as an introduction to a longer and more complex piece; later, starting with the Romantic period, generally a stand-alone piece. [from 1650s]

   Synonyms: intrada, overture

3. (computing) A standard module or library of subroutines and functions to be imported, generally by default, into a program.
4. (figurative) A forerunner to anything.

• forestory

• French: prélude
• Italian: preludio
• Portuguese: prelúdio
• Russian: вступле́ние
• Spanish: preludio, antesala

• German: Präludium, Vorspiel
• Italian: preludio, ouverture
• Portuguese: prelúdio
• Russian: прелю́дия
• Spanish: preludio

prelude (preludes, present participle preluding; past and past participle preluded)

1. To introduce something, as a prelude.
2. To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.
   • 1821 January 7, [Walter Scott], Kenilworth; a Romance. [...] In Three Volumes, volume (please specify ), Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, Edinburgh; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., OCLC 277979407 ↗:

   • We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point.