Definition for Prelude:

• An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially ( Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture.

Synonyms for Prelude:

• n.

  •
  • arpeggio,
  • crescendo,
  • flourish,
  • excerpt,
  • counterpoint,
  • coda,
  • accompaniment,
  • descant,
  • cadence,
  • breakbeat.
  •
  • air,
  • adagio,
  • cantata,
  • chorus,
  • chant,
  • bass,
  • voluntary,
  • allegro,
  • arrangement,
  • music,
  • andante,
  • concerto.
  •
  • words,
  • induction.
  •beginning (noun)
  • conception,
  • babyhood,
  • emergence,
  • genesis,
  • inauguration,
  • derivation,
  • nascency,
  • hatching,
  • infancy,
  • inception,
  • earliness,
  • embryo,
  • origin,
  • birth,
  • cradle,
  • sprout,
  • commencement,
  • precursor,
  • source,
  • stem,
  • start,
  • creation,
  • spring,
  • dawn,
  • nativity,
  • preparation.
  •beginning of event (noun)
  • exordium,
  • preamble,
  • prelusion,
  • curtain-raiser,
  • preface,
  • intro.
  •communication (noun)
  • prelude.
  •foreword (noun)
  • Exordia,
  • Exordiums.
  •overture (noun)
  • conciliatory moves,
  • pro-positions,
  • pro position,
  • pro positions.
  •preamble (noun)
  • pre-ambles,
  • pre ambles.
  •preface (noun)
  • ex planations,
  • pre-face,
  • ex-planations,
  • pre faces,
  • pre-faces,
  • ex planation,
  • pre face.
  •preliminary (noun)
  • first rounds.
  •prelude (noun)
  • antecedent,
  • avant-garde,
  • leading,
  • preceding,
  • foregoing.

• Other synonyms:

  •
  • lead-in,
  • Prolegomenon,
  • precondition.
  •
  • buildup.

Paraphrases for Prelude:

• Forward Entailment

  • Noun, singular or mass
    beginning.

• Independent

  • Noun, singular or mass
    preamble, preface, preparation, harbinger, precondition, pre-condition, anticipation, precedent.

• Other Related

  • Noun, singular or mass
    precursor, lead-up, introduction, run-up, prerequisite, foreword, pre-requisite.

Antonyms for Prelude:

• n.

  • beginning of event
    conclusion, completion, finish, epilogue, ending, end, stop, Postlude.
  • Other antonyms:
    cessation, aftermath, finale, envoi, closing, close, postscript, termination.

Prelude Sentence Examples:

• Was it not possible that their distressing conditions were a prelude to disaster?

• Whereupon he played a lively prelude; and, looking full into Flemming's face, sang with a pleasant smile, and still in German, this little song.

Hypernym for Prelude:

• n.

  • communication
    chorale prelude.

Hyponym for Prelude:

• n.

  • communication
    music.
  • event
    inception, origination, origin.

• v.

  • creation
    spiel, play.
  • stative
    serve, function.