/prɪˈlɪmɪnəri/
happening before a more important action or event 预备性的；初步的；开始的 SYN initial
After a few preliminary remarks he announced the winners.
说了几句开场白之后，他即宣布优胜者名单。
preliminary results/findings/enquiries
初步结果／发现／调查
the preliminary rounds of the contest
预赛
~ to sth
pilot studies preliminary to a full-scale study
全面研究前的试验性初步研究