preparation

views updated May 29 2018

prep·a·ra·tion / ˌprepəˈrāshən/ • n. the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration: the preparation of a draft contract the project is in preparation. ∎  (usu. preparations) something done to get ready for an event or undertaking: she continued her preparations for the party. ∎  a substance that is specially made up and usually sold, esp. a medicine or food. ∎  a specimen that has been prepared for scientific or medical examination: a microscope preparation. ∎  Mus. (in conventional harmony) the sounding of the discordant note in a chord in the preceding chord where it is not discordant, lessening the effect of the discord.

preparation

views updated May 18 2018

preparation. Device in harmony whereby effect of discord is lessened: the note in a chord which causes the chord to be discordant is sounded in the preceding chord where it is not a cause of discord, i.e. prepared discord. If this course is not followed, the discord is unprepared.

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