prepare

Prepare is defined as to make ready, put together or provide with what is needed.

(verb)

  1. An example of to prepare is packing for a trip.
  2. An example of to prepare is making breakfast.
  3. An example of to prepare is getting a child the supplies they need for school.

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See prepare in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb prepared, preparing

  1. to make ready, usually for a specific purpose; make suitable; fit; adapt; train
  2. to make receptive; dispose; accustom: to prepare someone for bad news
  3. to equip or furnish with necessary provisions, accessories, etc.; fit out: to prepare an expedition
  4. to put together or make out of ingredients, parts, etc., or according to a plan or formula; compound: to prepare dinner or a medicine
  5. Music to use (a dissonant tone) in preparation

Origin: ME preparen < MFr preparer < L praeparare < prae-, before (see pre-) + parare, to set in order, get ready, akin to parere, to bring forth, bear (see -parous)

intransitive verb

  1. to make things ready
  2. to make oneself ready

Related Forms:

See prepare in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb pre·pared, pre·par·ing, pre·pares
verb, transitive
  1. To make ready beforehand for a specific purpose, as for an event or occasion: The teacher prepared the students for the exams.
  2. To put together or make by combining various elements or ingredients; manufacture or compound: prepared a meal; prepared the lecture.
  3. To fit out; equip: prepared the ship for an arctic expedition.
  4. Music To lead up to and soften (a dissonance or its impact) by means of preparation.
verb, intransitive
  1. To make things or oneself ready.
  2. To study or complete a course of study at a preparatory school.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English preparen

Origin: , from Old French preparer

Origin: , from Latin praeparāre

Origin: : prae-, pre-

Origin: + parāre, prepare, equip; see perə-1 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • pre·parˈed·ly (-pârˈĭd-lē) adverb
  • pre·parˈer noun

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