n (1)(书的)前(引，序，绪)言 (introduction to a book) [C][N(to)]： write a～to a book 为一本书写序言;Has your history book a～? 你的历史书有前言吗?The～explains how to use the dictionary. 前言介绍了如何使用该字典。〖同〗introduction，foreword;

(2)开场白(introduction to a speech) [C]：〖同〗introduction， foreword;

vt (1)为……作序(provide sth with a preface) [T+n+prep(with)]：～a book with an introduction/the diaries with a short account of how they were discovered 为一本书作序/在日记前加上如何发现这些日记的简短说明;〖同〗introduce，begin;

(2)以……作为开场白;以……作为开始(begin or introduce (a speech， etc)) [T+n+prep(with/by)]：～one's remarks with an anecdote/an amusing story/an apology 以一小段轶事/一个有趣的故事/道歉作为自己讲话的开场白;He～d his talk with some sharp raps on the table/by apologizing for being late. 他开始讲话前先重重地敲了几下桌子/先为迟到而道歉。〖同〗introduce，open，begin，precede;

→′prefactory adj 序(引)言的;

【辨异】preface与introduction的区别见INTRODUCTION。