preliminary

In preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory.

These are just the preliminary results.

And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.

A preparation for a main matter; an introduction.

In the Chinese novels, often of a very literary character, devoted to masculine love, it seems that all the preliminaries and transports of normal love are to be found, while physical union may terminate the scene.

Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists

A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing