prelude

Nouns

(n) something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
- training is a necessary preliminary to employment
- drinks were the overture to dinner
overture, preliminary,
(n) music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera

Verbs

(v) serve as a prelude or opening to
(v) play as a prelude

Synonyms

overture preliminary

Words of close approximity