/ ˈpreljuːd; NAmE / noun
1.
a short piece of music, especially an introduction to a longer piece
2.
prelude (to sth) an action or event that happens before another more important one and forms an introduction to it
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French prélude , from medieval Latin praeludium , from Latin praeludere play beforehand, from prae before + ludere to play.