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]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

preamble
    n 1: a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution
         (usually explaining its purpose)
    v 1: make a preliminary introduction, usually to a formal
         document

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



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

PREAMBLE. A preface, an introduction or explanation of what is to follow:
that clause at the head of acts of congress or other legislatures which
explains the reasons why the act is made. Preambles are also frequently put
in contracts to, explain the motives of the contracting parties,
     2. A preamble is said to be the key of a statute, to open the minds of
the makers as to the mischiefs which are to be remedied, and the objects
which are to be accomplished by the provisions of the statutes. It cannot
amount, by implication, to enlarge what is expressly given. 1 Story on
Const. B 3, c. 6. How far a preamble is to be considered evidence of the
facts it recites, see 4 M. & S. 532; 1 Phil. Ev. 239; 2 Russ. on Cr. 720;
and see, generally, Ersk. L. of Scotl. 1, 1, 18; Toull. liv. 3, n. 318; 2
Supp. to Ves. jr. 239; 4 L. R. 55; Barr. on the Stat. 353, 370.