n. & v.
n. (often foll. by to) 1 an action, event, or situation serving as an introduction. 2 the introductory part of a poem etc. 3 a an introductory piece of music, often preceding a fugue or forming the first piece of a suite or beginning an act of an opera. b a short piece of music of a similar type, esp. for the piano.
v.tr. 1 serve as a prelude to. 2 introduce with a prelude. preludial adj.
[ F prélude or med.L praeludium f. L praeludere praelus- (as PRAE-, ludere play) ]