preliminary1/prIˋlImə͵nɛrI; prIˈlImən$ri or prIˈlImIn$ri/adj [only before noun 仅用于名词前] happening before something that is more important, often in order to prepare for it 预备的﹔初步的: European leaders meet tomorrow for preliminary talks. 欧洲各国领导人明日聚首举行初步会谈。the preliminary stages of the competition 竞赛的预备阶段
preliminary2n [C usually plural 一般用复数] plural preliminaries something that is done or said to introduce or prepare for something else later 准备工作﹐初步行动: the preliminaries of the competition 预赛