preparatory: Meaning and Definition of

pre•par•a•to•ry

Pronunciation: (pri-par'u-tôr"ē, -tōr"ē, -pâr'-, prep'ur-u-), [key]
— adj.
  1. serving or designed to prepare: preparatory arrangements.
  2. preliminary; introductory: preparatory remarks.
  3. of or pertaining to training that prepares for more advanced education.
—adv.
  1. in advance of; before: The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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