Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Preparation has 9 different meanings across 1 category:
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
"preparations for the ceremony had begun"
a substance prepared according to a formula
"the physician prescribed a commercial preparation of the medicine"
the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening
"his planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties"
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
"putting them in readiness"
"their preparation was more than adequate"
(music) a note that produces a dissonant chord is first heard in a consonant chord
"the resolution of one dissonance is often the preparation for another dissonance"
activity leading to skilled behavior
"After months of rigorous preparation, she finally executed a flawless performance on stage."
preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)
"I stayed up late last night to finish my preparation for tomorrow's history exam, which included reviewing all the notes I hadn't covered in class."
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
"cooking can be a great art"
"people are needed who have experience in cookery"
"he left the preparation of meals to his wife"
The act of preparing or getting ready.
"The team spent all afternoon on their preparation for the upcoming championship game."
In plain English: Preparation is getting ready for something by doing what you need to do beforehand.
"The preparation for the party took all day."
Usage: Use "preparation" to describe the general process or effort involved in making something ready, such as food preparation or exam preparation. It refers to the collective actions taken before an event occurs rather than a single specific step.
The word preparation comes from the Old French term preparacion, which was borrowed into Middle English. It is derived from the Latin verb praeparare combined with a suffix meaning "the act of," referring to the process of getting things ready in advance.