noun

1. An introductory or preliminary performance or event.

2. A short, free-form piece of music, originally one serving as an introduction to a longer and more complex piece; later, starting with the Romantic period, generally a stand-alone piece.

3. A standard module or library of subroutines and functions to be imported, generally by default, into a program.

Synonyms: forestory, intrada, overture, preface

verb

1. To introduce something, as a prelude.

2. To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.