4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  prelude 
  n  1:  something  that  serves  as  a  preceding  event  or  introduces 
  what  follows;  "training  is  a  necessary  preliminary  to 
  employment";  "drinks  were  the  overture  to  dinner"  [syn: 
  {preliminary},  {overture}] 
  2:  music  that  precedes  a  fugue  or  introduces  an  act  in  an  opera 
  v  1:  serve  as  a  prelude  to 
  2:  play  as  a  prelude,  of  musical  pieces 

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