Definition of "Preparation" :
noun: the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
"He left the preparation of meals to his wife."
noun: preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)
noun: activity leading to skilled behavior
noun: the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
"Preparations for the ceremony had begun."
noun: the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening
noun: (music) a note that produces a dissonant chord is first heard in a consonant chord
"The resolution of one dissonance is often the preparation for another dissonance."
noun: the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
"Their preparation was more than adequate."
noun: a substance prepared according to a formula
"The physician prescribed a commercial preparation of the medicine."