prelims
Before the finals
Prelims are preliminary rounds, examinations, or materials—things that come before the main event.
In academic contexts, prelims typically refers to qualifying exams taken before advancing to doctoral candidacy: She's studying for her prelims.
In publishing, the prelims are front matter pages before the main text: title page, contents, preface.
In sports, prelims are qualifying rounds before finals.
Increases temperature
- roundsAmmunition or bout divisions
- quarterfinalsPenultimate four matches
- semifinalsPenultimate tournament round
- bracketsMarks setting off text
groups · seeding · tournament · playoffs · matchups · bouts · qualifiers · knockout
Increases temperature
- lanesParallel traffic divisions
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- meetCome into contact
- lapOne complete circuit
split · stroke · blocks · times · trials · medley · freestyle · butterfly
Deliberate learning effort
- revisionAltering to improve
- syllabusCourse plan document
- testEvaluative examination
- multiple-choiceFormat offering preset options
questions · answers · score · pass · fail · preparation · textbooks · notes
State of meeting criteria
- cutoffPoint of termination
- criteriaStandards for judgment
- entrancePoint of access
- gatewayPoint of access
threshold · benchmark · standard · qualification · prerequisite · requirement · competence · aptitude
Containers or instances
- argumentsDisputes or reasoning chains
- constructivePromoting positive development
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- affirmativeExpressing agreement or consent
negative · resolution · motions · briefs · evidence · cards · framework · contentions
heats
Increases temperature
- roundsAmmunition or bout divisions
- quarterfinalsPenultimate four matches
- semifinalsPenultimate tournament round
brackets · groups · seeding · tournament · playoffs · matchups · bouts · qualifiers · knockout · draw
heats
Increases temperature
lap · split · stroke · blocks · times · trials · medley · freestyle · butterfly · backstroke
study
Deliberate learning effort
multiple-choice · questions · answers · score · pass · fail · preparation · textbooks · notes · practice
eligibility
State of meeting criteria
gateway · threshold · benchmark · standard · qualification · prerequisite · requirement · competence · aptitude · proficiency
cases
Containers or instances
- argumentsDisputes or reasoning chains
- constructivePromoting positive development
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
affirmative · negative · resolution · motions · briefs · evidence · cards · framework · contentions · rounds
- swimmingswimming, swimmer, swimmers, swim team, swim teams
- universitycampus, faculty, college, professors, degrees
- competition roundsfinals, semifinals, quarterfinals, first round, second round
- Competition Stagesheats, trials, qualifier, playoff, semifinal
- examsexam, test, quiz, final exam, midterm
- teststest, tests, exam, exams, quiz
prelimsfinals
Concluding tests or matches
championship · final round · grand final · title match · finale
prelimsdissertation defense
Oral examination of thesis
finals · thesis defense · comprehensive exams · oral defense · viva
- preliminary investigationInquiry before formal proceedings
- preliminary roundsInitial elimination stages
- preliminary hearingProceeding to evaluate evidence
- preliminary examinationFirst-round assessment or screening
- preliminary testInitial evaluation before proceeding
- preliminary eventContest preceding the main