1. Written matter preceding the main text of a book
   "The table of contents is typically found in the prelims";
   - front matter

1. An examination taken by graduate students to determine their fitness to continue
   "She spent months preparing for her prelims in physics";
   - preliminary examination, preliminary exam
    
2. A minor match preceding the main event
   "He won his prelim fight easily";
   - preliminary

Type of: athletic competition, athletic contest, athletics, exam, examination, matter, test

Encyclopedia: Prelims