/'presɪdənt; `prɛsədənt/
n
(a) [C] earlier decision, case, event, etc that is regarded as an example or rule for what comes later 可援为先例的判决、事例、事件等
*create/establish/set a precedent (for sth) （为某事物）开创先例
* serve as a precedent for sth 为某事物提供范例
* There is no precedent for such an action. 这种行动没有先例可循.
(b) [U] existing precedents (used esp in the expressions shown) 先例（尤用于下列示例）
*without precedent 没有先例
* break with precedent, ie not act according to precedents 打破先例（不按先例行事）.

n
[C]
an action or official decision that can be used to give support to later actions or decisions
　a legal precedent
set/create a precedent
　UN involvement in the country's affairs would set a dangerous precedent.
precedent for
　precedents for what courts will accept as 'fair'
[U and C]
something of the same type that has happened or existed before
precedent for
　There's not much precedent for men taking leave when their baby is born.
without precedent
　An epidemic on this scale is without precedent.
[U]
the way that things have always been done
break with precedent
(=do something in a new way)