prelude

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface.
2. n. Music A piece or movement that serves as an introduction to another section or composition and establishes the key, such as one that precedes a fugue, opens a suite, or precedes a church service.
3. n. Music A similar but independent composition for the piano.
4. n. Music The overture to an oratorio, opera, or act of an opera.
5. n. Music A short composition of the 15th and early 16th centuries written in a free style, usually for keyboard.
6. v. To serve as a prelude to.
7. v. To introduce with or as if with a prelude.
8. v. To serve as a prelude or introduction.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To preface; prepare the way for; introduce as by a prelude; foreshadow.
2. Specifically, in music, to play a prelude to; introduce by a musical prelude.
3. To serve as a prelude to; precede as a musical prelude.
4. To perform a prelude or introduction; give a preface to later action; especially, in music, to play a prelude, or introductory passage or movement, before beginning a principal composition.
5. To serve as a prelude or introduction; especially, to constitute a musical prelude.
6. n. An introductory performance; a preliminary to an action, event, or work of broader scope and higher importance; a preface; presage; foreshadowing.
7. n. In music, a prefatory or introductory piece, section, or movement, either extended and more or less independent, as in many elaborate fugues, in suites and sonatas, in oratorios and operas, or brief and strictly connected with what is to follow, as in various shorter works and at the opening of church services and before hymns. The organ prelude to a church service is often called a voluntary. Compare intrada, introduction, overture, vorspiel, etc.
8. n. Synonyms Preface, etc. (see introduction), preliminary.
9. n. See overture

Wiktionary

1. n. An introductory or preliminary performance or event; a preface.
2. n. music A short piece of music that acts as an introduction to a longer piece.
3. v. To introduce something, as a prelude.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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.
2. v. To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.
3. v. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to.
4. v. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. play as a prelude
2. n. something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
3. v. serve as a prelude or opening to
4. n. music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera