/'prelju:d; `prɛljud/
n
1 ~ (to sth)
(a) action or event that happens before another larger or more important one and forms an introduction to it （行动或事件的）序幕, 前奏
*His frequent depressions were the prelude to a complete mental breakdown. 他经常抑郁寡欢, 後来精神完全崩溃了.
* The bankruptcy of several small firms was the prelude to general economic collapse. 几家小商行倒闭了, 随之而来的是经济大萧条.
* I'm afraid that these troubles are just a prelude, ie to worse ones. 我看这些为难事只是个引子（大问题在後面）.
(b) introductory part of a poem, etc （诗等的）序
*The lines form a prelude to his long narrative poem. 这几行诗是他那长篇叙事诗的序诗.
2 (music 音)
(a) introductory movement coming before a fugue or forming the first part of a suite 前奏曲.
(b) short piece of music of a similar type 类似上述乐曲之小段.

n[C]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French;Origin: prélude, from Medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere 'to play before']
a prelude to sth
if an event is a prelude to a more important event, it happens just before it and makes people expect it
　Living together as a prelude to marriage is now considered acceptable in many countries.
a short piece of music, especially one played at the beginning of a longer musical piece or before a church ceremony
　Chopin's preludes
　an organ prelude