warmups
Loosening before exertion
Warmups are preparatory exercises done before more strenuous activity—stretching before a run, vocal scales before a performance, practice swings before batting.
The term extends to any preliminary activity that gets you ready: I did a few warmup sketches before starting the portrait.
Also spelled as two words or hyphenated: warm-ups, warm ups.
Extending muscles or material
- limberingBecoming more flexible
- joggingSlow-paced locomotion exercise
- jumping-jacksFull-body rhythmic exercise
- lungesSudden forward movements
squats · push-ups · calisthenics · flexibility · mobility · loosening · muscles · cardio
Plates or weighing devices
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- articulationClear vocal expression
resonance · humming · sirens · arpeggios · diction · phonation · diaphragm · pitch
Adjusting pitch accuracy
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- arpeggiosChord notes played individually
- sight-readingPerforming unrehearsed notation
- etudesMusical practice pieces
bowing · intonation · embouchure · metronome
Impeding forward progress
- run-throughFull practice of something
- improvUnscripted comedic performance
- mirroringReproducing an image identically
- physicalizationExpressing through physical form
stretching
Extending muscles or material
- limberingBecoming more flexible
- joggingSlow-paced locomotion exercise
- jumping-jacksFull-body rhythmic exercise
lunges · squats · push-ups · calisthenics · flexibility · mobility · loosening · muscles · cardio · activation
scales
Plates or weighing devices
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- projectionSomething that extends outward
articulation · resonance · humming · sirens · arpeggios · diction · phonation · diaphragm · pitch · tone
tuning
Adjusting pitch accuracy
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- arpeggiosChord notes played individually
- sight-readingPerforming unrehearsed notation
etudes · bowing · intonation · embouchure · metronome
blocking
Impeding forward progress
- run-throughFull practice of something
- improvUnscripted comedic performance
- mirroringReproducing an image identically
- PE classPE, PE class, gym class, PE teacher, gym teacher
- physical educationPE, gym class, PE class, physical education, physical training
- pregamestretching routine, stretching, pep talk, pregame show, team huddle
- sports gearbasketball, baseball, football, soccer ball, volleyball
- sports trainingdrills, conditioning, practice, fitness, cool-downs
- track meetstrack meets, track events, field events, hurdles, relays
warmupsmain event
Featured performance or contest
competition · performance · game · the real thing · match
warmupscooldowns
Post-exertion rest periods
cool-down · recovery · wind-down · finale · stretching
- warmup jacketAthletic outer layer
- vocal warmupPreparatory singing exercises
- warmup areaPre-event preparation space