1 the act or an instance of preparing; the process of being prepared.
2 (often in pl.) something done to make ready.
3 a specially prepared substance, esp. a food or medicine.
4 work done by school pupils to prepare for a lesson.
5 Mus. the sounding of the discordant note in a chord in the preceding chord where it is not discordant, lessening the effect of the discord.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L praeparatio -onis (as PREPARE)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.