/pri:tʃ; pritʃ/
v
1 (a) [I, Ipr] ~ (to sb) (about/against/on sth) give a sermon, esp in church 讲道, 布道（尤指在教堂中）
*The vicar preached to the congregation for half an hour. 那位教区牧师向会众讲道半个小时.
* He preaches well. 他讲道讲得好.
* What did he preachabout/on? 他宣讲了什么?
* He preached against violence.他讲道中宣讲反对暴力的道理.
(b) [Tn, Dn.pr] ~ sth (to sb) give (a sermon) 讲（道）; 布（道）
*He preaches the same sermon every Christmas. 他每逢圣诞节都宣讲同一教旨.
(c) [Tn, Dn.pr] ~ sth (to sb) make (a religion or teaching) known by talking about it publicly; teach (sth) 宣扬（教义或教条）; 教导（某事物）
*preach the Gospel/the word of God 传布福音[上帝的道]
* They preached the new doctrines throughout Europe. 他们在全欧洲宣讲这一新学说.
2 [Tn] try to persuade people to accept or support (sth); advocate 劝说人们赞成或支持（某事物）; 说教; 鼓吹
*She preached economy as the best means of solving the crisis. 她大力鼓吹节约是解决危机的关键.
* He was always preaching the virtues of capitalism. 他总是宣传资本主义的长处.
3 [I, Ipr] ~ (at/to sb) (often derog 常作贬义) give unwanted advice on morals, behaviour, etc, esp in a persistent, annoying manner 进行道德、操守等方面的说教（尤指唠叨、令人厌烦）
*I am tired of listening to you preach (at me). 我懒得听你（对我讲）的大道理.
* You are in no position to preach to me about efficiency! 你没有资格对我大谈什么效率问题!
4 (idm 习语) practisewhat one preaches => practise. preach to the con`verted speak to people in support of views that they already hold 对人们宣传他们早已持有的观点
*Telling conservationists that we need to preserve the natural heritage really is preaching to the converted! 向自然资源保护论者宣讲需要保护自然界遗产的道理, 真是多此一举.

v
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: prechier, from Late Latin praedicare, from Latin dicare 'to say publicly']
[I and T]
to talk about a religious subject in a public place, especially in a church during a service
preach to
　Christ began preaching to large crowds.
preach on/about
　The vicar preached a sermon about the prodigal son.
　He traveled the southern states, preaching the gospel .
[T]
to talk about how good or important something is and try to persuade other people about this
　Alexander has been preaching patience.
preach the virtues/merits/benefits of sth
　a politician preaching the virtues of a free market
[I]
to give someone advice, especially about their behaviour, in a way that they think is boring or annoying
preach about
　grown-ups preaching about the evils of drugs
preach to the converted/choir
to talk about what you think is right or important to people who already have the same opinions as you
→practise what you preachatpractise