ˈfɔɹwɝːd ˈfɔːwɜːd ˌɪntɹəˈdus ˌɪntɹəˈdjuːs pɹəˈsiːd ˈpɹɛfəs ˈpɹɛfəs ˈpɹɛ.mɪs furnish with a preface or introduction She always precedes her lectures with a joke He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book