Meaning
prelude
- introductory piece of music preceding a larger work or played independently
- an introductory event or condition that foreshadows something else
In a sentence
Il pianista ha eseguito un preludio di Chopin con grande maestria.
The pianist performed a Chopin prelude with great skill.
Quella protesta fu solo il preludio a una rivoluzione più ampia.
That protest was only the prelude to a wider revolution.
I primi tuoni sono stati il preludio di un violento temporale.
The first peals of thunder were the prelude to a violent thunderstorm.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| preludio | masculine · singular |
| preludi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Used both in musical terminology and metaphorically for events announcing what follows.