prelude

名词 prelude:

1. something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
   同义词：preliminary, overture
2. music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera

动词 prelude:

1. serve as a prelude or opening to
2. play as a prelude

1. The telephone rings and this marks the prelude to an unforeseen series of catastrophes.
   电话铃响了，这就揭开了未预料到的大灾难的序幕。
2. His frequent depressions were the prelude to a complete mental breakdown.
   他经常抑郁寡欢，後来精神完全崩溃了。
3. The bankruptcy of several small firms was the prelude to general economic collapse.
   几家小商行倒闭了，随之而来的是经济大萧条。
4. The lines form a prelude to his long narrative poem.
   这几行诗是他那长篇叙事诗的序诗。

prel.ude

n.（名词）
An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface.
序幕：先于较重要部分的介绍性表演，事件或行动；开端或序
Music An independent piece written for piano and usually based on a single, short thematic motif.
【音乐】 序曲：一首为钢琴所做的独立曲目，通常以一单独的，较短的主旋律为基调
Music A piece or movement serving as an introduction to another section or composition, especially:
【音乐】 前奏曲：作为另一部分或乐曲前奏的一部作品或乐章，尤指：
An independent, relatively long piece that precedes a fugue.
独奏曲段：赋格曲之前的独立的，相对较长的乐曲
The first or opening section of a suite.
组曲先前或开头的部分
The overture to an oratorio, opera, or act of an opera.
序曲：圣乐、歌剧或一幕歌剧的序曲
A piece played before a church service; an introductory voluntary.
乐曲：在宗教礼拜乐曲前演奏的乐曲；开头的风琴独奏
A relatively short composition of the 5th and early 'th centuries written in a free style, usually for piano.
随意形式写成的曲子：盛行于5世纪及'世纪早期通常为钢琴所写的相对较短的随意体乐曲
v.（动词）
prel.ud.ed,prel.ud.ing,prel.udes
v.tr.（及物动词）
To serve as a prelude to.
作为前奏：作为…的序曲
To introduce with or as if with a prelude.
开头：用或似乎用序曲来引入
v.intr.（不及物动词）
To serve as a prelude or an introduction.
作为序幕或开端

来源：
Medieval Latin praelôdium
中世纪拉丁语 praelôdium
from Latin praelôdere [to play beforehand]
源自 拉丁语 praelôdere [预先演奏]
prae- [pre-]
prae- [前缀，表.先于.]
lôdere [to play] from lôdus [game] * see leid-
lôdere [演奏] 源自 lôdus [节目] *参见 leid-

【引伸】
prel.ud.er
n.（名词）
prelu.dial