1.  prelim(n = noun.event) preliminary - a minor match preceding the main event;
is a kind of athletic competition, athletic contest, athletics

2.  prelim(n = noun.communication) preliminary exam, preliminary examination - an examination taken by graduate students to determine their fitness to continue;
is a kind of exam, examination, test

prelim, n. colloq.
1 a preliminary examination, esp. at a university.
2 (in pl.) the pages preceding the text of a book.

Etymology:
abbr.