noun / adjective
prelim
PREE-lim/ˈpriːlɪm/
A preliminary stage completed before the main activity.
The runners line up for a prelim before the main race.
Etymology
The 'before the threshold' image describes something leading up to a more important event. Prelim shortens preliminary, naming a race, test, or other event that comes before the main one.
In context
none of it comes out at prelim because the judge at prelim is the gatekeeper of all of that.
More examples
- The fastest swimmers in the prelims advance to the finals.
- We finish the prelims before beginning the main experiment.
- Our team plays in the prelim round this morning.
Forms
prelim · prelims
Similar words
- preliminary
- The full form, generally preferred in more formal writing.
- qualifier
- Specifically determines eligibility to advance, rather than merely coming first.