preliminary
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1pre·lim·i·nary
noun \pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē\ plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies
Definition of PRELIMINARY
: something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as a : a preliminary scholastic examination b plural British : front matter c : a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race) d : a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)
See Examples of PRELIMINARY
- <a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions>
Origin of PRELIMINARY
French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold
First Known Use: 1656
Related to PRELIMINARY
Rhymes with PRELIMINARY
apothecary, bicentenary, confectionary, confectionery, consigliere, constabulary, contemporary, deflationary, disciplinary, discretionary, diversionary, epistolary, exclusionary, expansionary, extemporary, extraordinary, fiduciary, hereditary, illusionary, imaginary, incendiary, inflationary, insanitary, intercalary, involuntary, itinerary, judiciary, lending library, marionberry, obituary, olallieberry, on the contrary, pecuniary, pituitary, precautionary, presidiary, probationary, proprietary, provisionary, reactionary, subliterary, subsidiary, tercentenary, unnecessary, veterinary, vocabulary, voluptuary
2preliminary
adjectiveDefinition of PRELIMINARY
: coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else <preliminary studies> <preliminary results>
— pre·lim·i·nar·i·ly \-ˌli-mə-ˈner-ə-lē\ adverb
Examples of PRELIMINARY
- Preliminary findings show that the drug could help patients with skin cancer.
- The team was eliminated in the preliminary round of the tournament.
- research that is preliminary to the study
First Known Use of PRELIMINARY
circa 1667
Related to PRELIMINARY
- Synonyms
- beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary
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