(~s)
1.
A ~ is an early round or match in some competitions. The players or teams who are successful are able to continue to the next round or to the main competition.
Last week Wales lost 5-1 to Romania in a World Cup ~.
N-COUNT
2.
In grammar, a ~ is a word or group of words that comes after a noun and gives more information about the person or thing that the noun refers to.
N-COUNT
3.
see also qualify