a.

1. 預備的；初步的；序言（性）的；開端的[B]
   Preliminary arrangements have been made for the talks.

   會談的準備工作已經就緒。

n.[C]

1. 初步；開端；預備[P1]
   He spent a long time on polite preliminaries.

   開始時他的許多時間花在客套上。

2. 預考，初試
3. 【體】預賽；淘汰賽
   These boxers did quite well to get through the preliminaries.

   這些拳擊運動員以相當出色的成績通過了預賽。

adj.

n.

1. a preliminary action or event.
2. a preliminary round in a sporting competition.
3. (preliminaries) the prelims of a book.