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preparative

preparative

6.8
Done earlier to get something ready
  • adjective
  • /prɪˈpɛrətɪv/
translation icon : preparatorio
  • The team conducted preparative experiments to ensure everything was ready for the main project.

Examples

  • The spiked extract was then concentrated to 0.5 mL and injected onto a preparative size exclusion chromatography column to remove lipids and biogenic material.

    Academic text (2000)
  • All three peaks were collected after separation on the semi-preparative column and purified by repeated HPLC on the same column.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The crude peptide was purified by preparative reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Goodwin's pagan was emblematic of a flow of divine benevolence no longer delimited by an absolute, irrespective decree, and no longer administered in response to the preparative economy of the moral law.

    Academic text (2018)
  • They held a preparative meeting to discuss the logistics for the upcoming event.

  • Before the launch, the engineers finished all preparative tasks to guarantee success.

Synonyms

preparatory
vspreparative
15 4.7

To help get ready for something

focuses on being done earlier to make things ready rather than introducing them
propaedeutic
vspreparative
  • Formal
9.9

Acting as an introduction that prepares students for later study in a subject

applies broadly to actions done earlier to make later events ready, not just teaching

How Preparatory

preparative
6.8
preliminary
325 5.2
introductory
35 3.9

Surface Forms

preparative positive

Morphology

preparative = prepare (transparent) = prepare + ive

The adjective is directly formed from the verb 'prepare' with the productive adjectival suffix '-ive' meaning 'serving to prepare'.

Etymology

The word preparative starts with pre- 'before' and comes from prepare, which means 'to make ready', so something preparative is done in advance to get things ready for what comes next.