preliminaries Definition

preliminary
adj

1. Occurring at the beginning; introductory or preparatory.

Thesaurus: first, opening, early, earliest, initial, introductory, primary, pilot, inaugural, trial, embryonic, precursory, exploratory, preparatory, initiative; Antonym: closing, final.

noun preliminaries

1. Something done or said by way of introduction or preparation.

Example: had no time for the usual preliminaries
Thesaurus: beginning, start, opening, prelude, introduction, formalities, preface, proem, initiation, preparation; basics, foundations, groundwork, rudiments.
Form: preliminaries (usually)
2. A preliminary round in a competition.

Etymology: 17c: from Latin praeliminaris, from prae‐ before + limen, liminis threshold.