3 VERB If someone gives you advice in a very serious, boring way, you can say that they are preaching at you. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + at ] 'Don't preach at me,' he shouted.
4 PHRASE If you say that someone practises what they preach , you mean that they behave in the way that they encourage other people to behave in. □ He ought to practise what he preaches.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone is preaching to the converted , you mean that they are wasting their time because they are trying to persuade people to think or believe in things that they already think or believe in.
preach|er /priː tʃə r / (preachers ) N‑COUNT A preacher is a person, usually a member of the clergy, who preaches sermons as part of a church service.
pre|am|ble /priː æmb ə l/ (preambles ) N‑VAR A preamble is an introduction that comes before something you say or write. □ [+ to/of ] The controversy has arisen over the text of the preamble to the unification treaty.
pre|ar|range /priː əre I ndʒ/ (prearranges , prearranging , prearranged ) also pre-arrange VERB If you prearrange something, you plan or arrange it before the time when it actually happens. □ [V n] When you prearrange your funeral, you can pick your own flowers and music.
pre|ar|ranged /priː əre I ndʒd/ also pre-arranged ADJ [ADJ n] You use prearranged to indicate that something has been planned or arranged before the time when it actually happens. □ Working to a prearranged plan, he rang the First Secretary and requested an appointment with the Ambassador.
pre|cari|ous /pr I keə riəs/
1 ADJ If your situation is precarious , you are not in complete control of events and might fail in what you are doing at any moment. □ Our financial situation had become precarious. □ …the Government's precarious position. ● pre|cari|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] □ The hunter-gatherer lifestyle today survives precariously in remote regions. ● pre|cari|ous|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Wells was well aware of the precariousness of human life.
2 ADJ Something that is precarious is not securely held in place and seems likely to fall or collapse at any moment. □ They looked rather comical as they crawled up precarious ladders. ● pre|cari|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] □ One of my grocery bags was still precariously perched on the car bumper.
pre|cau|tion /pr I kɔː ʃ ə n/ (precautions ) N‑COUNT A precaution is an action that is intended to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening. □ Could he not, just as a precaution, move to a place of safety? □ Extra safety precautions are essential in homes where older people live.
pre|cau|tion|ary /pr I kɔː ʃənri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Precautionary actions are taken in order to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening. [FORMAL ] □ The local administration says the curfew is a precautionary measure.
pre|cede /pr I siː d/ (precedes , preceding , preceded )
1 VERB If one event or period of time precedes another, it happens before it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Intensive negotiations between the main parties preceded the vote. □ [be V -ed + by ] The earthquake was preceded by a loud roar and lasted 20 seconds. □ [V -ing] Industrial orders had already fallen in the preceding months.
2 VERB If you precede someone somewhere, you go in front of them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He gestured to Alice to precede them from the room. □ [be V -ed + by ] They were preceded by mounted cowboys.
3 VERB A sentence, paragraph, or chapter that precedes another one comes just before it. □ [V n] Look at the information that precedes the paragraph in question. □ [V -ing] Repeat the exercises described in the preceding section.
prec|edence /pre s I dəns/ N‑UNCOUNT If one thing takes precedence over another, it is regarded as more important than the other thing. □ [+ over ] Have as much fun as possible at college, but don't let it take precedence over work.
prec|edent /pre s I dənt/ (precedents ) N‑VAR If there is a precedent for an action or event, it has happened before, and this can be regarded as an argument for doing it again. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] The trial could set an important precedent for dealing with large numbers of similar cases.
pre|cept /priː sept/ (precepts ) N‑COUNT A precept is a general rule that helps you to decide how you should behave in particular circumstances. [FORMAL ] □ …an electoral process based on the precept that all men are born equal.
pre|cinct /priː s I ŋkt/ (precincts )
1 N‑COUNT A shopping precinct is an area in the centre of a town in which cars are not allowed. [BRIT ] □ The Centre was a pedestrian precinct with a bandstand in the middle.
2 N‑COUNT A precinct is a part of a city which has its own police force and fire service. [AM ] □ The shooting occurred in the 34th Precinct.
3 N‑PLURAL The precincts of an institution are its buildings and land. [FORMAL ] □ No one carrying arms is allowed within the precincts of a temple.
pre|cious /pre ʃəs/
1 ADJ If you say that something such as a resource is precious , you mean that it is valuable and should not be wasted or used badly. □ After four months in foreign parts, every hour at home was precious. □ Water is becoming an increasingly precious resource.