definition of
precede

[1] #1 precede v. [predate, forego, forgo, antecede, antedate] be earlier in time; go back further; "Stone tools precede bronze tools". wn

[2] #2 precede v. [predate] come before; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify". wn

[3] #3 precede v. [come before] be the predecessor of; "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands". wn

[4] #4 precede v. [lead] move ahead (of others) in time or space. wn

[5] #5 precede v. [preface, premise, introduce] furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution". wn