Preliminary - Definition
preliminary
adj 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"
n 1: a minor match preceding the main event [syn: preliminary,
prelim]
2: 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, prelude]