/in'treuh duk"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of introducing or the state of being introduced.
2. a formal personal presentation of one person to another or others.
3. a preliminary part, as of a book, musical composition, or the like, leading up to the main part.
4. an elementary treatise: an introduction to botany.
5. an act or instance of inserting.
6. something introduced.
[ 1350-1400; ME introduccion introduction- (s. of introductio ). See INTRODUCE, -TION ]
Syn. 3. INTRODUCTION, FOREWORD, PREFACE refer to material given at the front of a book to explain or introduce it to the reader. A FOREWORD is part of the front matter and is usually written by someone other than the author, often an authority on the subject of the book. A PREFACE is the author's own statement, and often includes acknowledgments. It follows the FOREWORD (if there is one) and is also part of the front matter. The INTRODUCTION is always by the author. It may be extensive and is usually printed as part of the text.