prelims

Definitions

1. The preliminary front matter of a book; all content preceding the main text or work itself.
2. Preliminary examinations taken as a whole, as sat by an individual or year group.
   collective, uncountable

Examples

“A book usually consists of three sections: preliminary matter⟳ (also called prelims or front matter⟳), the main text, and end⟳ matter⟳. All books have⟳ some kind of prelims, all have⟳ a text, and most works of non-fiction have⟳ end⟳ matter⟳.”

“Are you done with prelims yet?”

CEFR level