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Adjective: preliminary  pri'li-mu`ne-ree [N. Amer], pri'li-mi-n(u-)ree [Brit]
  1. 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: preliminary  pri'li-mu`ne-ree [N. Amer], pri'li-mi-n(u-)ree [Brit]
  1. A minor match preceding the main event
    - prelim
     
  2. Something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
    "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"
    - overture, prelude

Derived forms: preliminaries

See also: explorative, exploratory

Type of: athletic competition, athletic contest, athletics, inception, origin, origination

Encyclopedia: Preliminary

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