Definition of "preposition" in English

noun

1. (grammar, strict sense) Any of a class of non-inflecting words and multiword terms typically employed to connect a following noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word: a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word.

2. (grammar, broad sense) An adposition.

3. (obsolete) A proposition; an exposition; a discourse.

verb

1. (sometimes proscribed) Alternative spelling of pre-position.

   • It is important to preposition the material before turning on the machine.