coming before something: occurring before and leading up to something, especially an event of greater size and importance
noun (pluralpre·lim·i·nar·ies)
Definition:
1. introductory or preparatory activity: something said or done before something else, often by way of introduction to or preparation for something of greater size and importance
(
often used in the plural
)
2. sports introductory contest: a sporting contest held before the main event, especially in boxing or wrestling
3. sports eliminatory contest: an eliminatory contest to select the finalists in a sports competition
4. education preparatory examination: a test that prepares students for a subsequent examination of greater difficulty and importance
[Mid-17th century. Directly or via French< modern Latin praeliminaris< Latin limen "threshold"]
