preliminary
Use Preliminary in a sentence
əˌnɛr adjective
1.
preceding and leading up to the main part, matter, or business; introductory; preparatory: preliminary examinations.
noun
2.
something preliminary, as an introductory or preparatory step, measure, contest, etc.: He passed the preliminary and went on to the finals.
3.
a boxing match or other athletic contest that takes place before the main event on the program: A preliminary was fought at 8:00.
4.
a preliminary examination, as of a candidate for an academic degree.
5.
00:10
Preliminary
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Related forms
pre·lim·i·nar·i·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. prefatory. Preliminary, introductory both refer to that which comes before the principal subject of consideration. That which is preliminary is in the nature of preparation or of clearing away details which would encumber the main subject or problem; it often deals with arrangements and the like, which have to do only incidentally with the principal subject: preliminary negotiations. That which is introductory leads with natural, logical, or close connection directly into the main subject of consideration: introductory steps.
1. prefatory. Preliminary, introductory both refer to that which comes before the principal subject of consideration. That which is preliminary is in the nature of preparation or of clearing away details which would encumber the main subject or problem; it often deals with arrangements and the like, which have to do only incidentally with the principal subject: preliminary negotiations. That which is introductory leads with natural, logical, or close connection directly into the main subject of consideration: introductory steps.
Antonyms
1. concluding.
1. concluding.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To preliminary
Collins
World English Dictionary
preliminary (prɪˈlɪmɪnərɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | (usually prenominal) occurring before or in preparation; introductory |
| —n , -naries | |
| 2. | a preliminary event or occurrence |
| 3. | an eliminating contest held before the main competition |
| [C17: from New Latin praelīmināris, from Latin prae before + līmen threshold] | |
| pre'liminarily | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
preliminary
1656, from Fr. préliminaire or M.L. præliminaris, from L. præ- "before" + limen (gen. liminis) "threshold." A word that arose in ref. to negotiations to end the Thirty Years' War.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
There are preliminary studies that are beginning to link acetaminophen use with both the rise of autism and asthma.
But I must pass over this preliminary difficulty.
These are preliminary thoughts, and they might be wrong.
And, although it is still early days, preliminary tests suggest it is both non-toxic and biodegradable.
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