Prelude \Pre*lude"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.]

[L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. pr['e]luder. See Ludicrous.]

To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude. [1913 Webster]

The musicians preluded on their instruments. --Sir. W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point. --Jeffrey. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Prelude \Pre*lude"\, v. t.

1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air. [1913 Webster]

2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory. [1913 Webster]

[Music] preluding some great tragedy. --Longfellow [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Prelude \Pre"lude\, n. [F. pr['e]lude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.]

An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture. [1913 Webster]

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Aenis --Addison. [1913 Webster]

The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

54 Moby Thesaurus words for "prelude": Vorspiel, antecedence, antecedency, anteposition, anteriority, avant-propos, breakthrough, concert overture, curtain raiser, descant, dominion, dramatic overture, exordium, foreword, front matter, front position, frontispiece, innovation, introduce, introduction, leap, operatic overture, overture, postulate, preamble, precedence, precedency, preceding, precession, precursor, preface, preference, prefix, prefixation, prefixture, preliminary, premise, presupposition, priority, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologize, prologue, protasis, prothesis, superiority, the lead, top priority, urgency, vamp, verse, voluntary

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

prelude

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Prelude \Pre*lude"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.]

[L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. pr['e]luder. See Ludicrous.]

To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.

The musicians preluded on their instruments. --Sir. W. Scott.

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Prelude \Pre*lude"\, v. t.

1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.

2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

[Music] preluding some great tragedy. --Longfellow

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Prelude \Pre"lude\, n. [F. pr['e]lude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.]

An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture.

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the [AE]nis --Addison.

The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact. --Whewell.

Syn: Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)