<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>a proceeding, measure, or provision by which one prepares for something: preparations for a journey.</li><li>any proceeding, experience, or the like considered as a mode of preparing for the future.</li><li>an act of preparing.</li><li>the state of being prepared.</li><li>something prepared, manufactured, or compounded: a special preparation for sunbathers.</li><li>a specimen, as an animal body, prepared for scientific examination, dissection, etc.</li><li>Music: the preparing of a dissonance, by introducing the dissonant tone as a consonant tone in the preceding chord.</li><li>the tone so introduced.</li><li>New Testament: the day before the Sabbath or a feast day.</li><li>British: work done by students in preparation for class; homework.</li><li>the Preparation: the introductory prayers of the Mass or other divine service.</li></ul>