preliminary
pre·lim·i·nar·y / priˈliməˌnerē/ • adj. denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important: preliminary talks the discussions were seen as preliminary to the policy paper.• n. (pl. -nar·ies) an action or event preceding or preparing for something fuller or more important: the bombardment was resumed as a preliminary to an infantry attack. ∎ (preliminaries) business or talk, esp. of a formulaic or polite nature, taking place before an action or event: she began speaking, without preliminaries. ∎ a preliminary round in a sporting competition. ∎ (preliminaries) fuller form of prelims (see prelim (sense 2)).PHRASES: preliminary to preparatory to; in advance of.DERIVATIVES: pre·lim·i·nar·i·ly / -ˌliməˈnerəlē/ adv.