NOUN (1)

1. a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution (usually explaining its purpose);


VERB (1)

1. make a preliminary introduction, usually to a formal document;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preamble \Pre"am`ble\, n. [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus
   walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before
   + ambulare to walk: cf. F. pr['e]ambule. See Amble.]
   A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a
   book, document, etc.; specifically, the introductory part of
   a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preamble \Pre"am`ble\, v. t. & i.
   To make a preamble to; to preface; to serve as a preamble.
   [R.] --Feltham. Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

28 Moby Thesaurus words for "preamble":
   avant-propos, breakthrough, exordium, foreword, front matter,
   frontispiece, innovation, introduce, introduction, leap, overture,
   postulate, preface, prefix, prefixture, preliminary, prelude,
   premise, presupposition, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon,
   prolepsis, prologize, prologue, protasis, verse, voluntary