Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
preexisting condition
prefab
prefabricate
preface
prefaded
prefatory
prefect
prefecture
prefer
preferable
preferably
preference
preference shares
preferential
preferment
preferred position
preferred provider
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

prefer

pre·fer [ pri fúr ] (past and past participle pre·ferred, present participle pre·fer·ring, 3rd person present singular pre·fers)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. like somebody or something better: to like or want somebody or something more than somebody or something else
I prefer tea to coffee.

2. law lay charge before court: to make a charge against somebody by submitting details of the alleged offense to a court, magistrate, or judge for examination, or prosecute such a charge
preferred charges against the accused

3. law give priority to somebody: to give priority to one person, especially a creditor, over others

4. promote somebody: to promote somebody to a higher position or rank ( archaic )

[14th century. Via French préferer< Latin praeferre "put before" < ferre "carry, bear"]

pre·fer·rer noun
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft