From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
prepare
v 1: make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular
purpose or for some use, event, etc; "Get the children
ready for school!"; "prepare for war"; "I was fixing to
leave town after I paid the hotel bill" [syn: fix,
set up, ready, gear up, set]
2: prepare for eating by applying heat; "Cook me dinner,
please"; "can you make me an omelette?"; "fix breakfast
for the guests, please" [syn: cook, fix, ready,
make]
3: to prepare verbally, either for written or spoken delivery;
"prepare a report"; "prepare a speech"
4: arrange by systematic planning and united effort; "machinate
a plot"; "organize a strike"; "devise a plan to take over
the director's office" [syn: organize, organise,
devise, get up, machinate]
5: prepare (someone) for a future role or function; "He is
grooming his son to become his successor"; "The prince was
prepared to become King one day"; "They trained him to be
a warrior" [syn: groom, train]
6: create by training and teaching; "The old master is training
world-class violinists"; "we develop the leaders for the
future" [syn: train, develop, educate]
7: lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it
as a consonant note in the preceding chord; "prepare the
discord in bar 139"
8: undergo training or instruction in preparation for a
particular role, function, or profession; "She is training
to be a teacher"; "He trained as a legal aid" [syn:
train]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Prepare \Pre*pare"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepare?; p. pr. &
vb. n. Preparing.] [F. pr['e]parer, L. praeparare; prae
before + parare to make ready. See Pare.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To fit, adapt, or qualify for a particular purpose or
condition; to make ready; to put into a state for use or
application; as, to prepare ground for seed; to prepare a
lesson.
[1913 Webster]
Our souls, not yet prepared for upper light.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. To procure as suitable or necessary; to get ready; to
provide; as, to prepare ammunition and provisions for
troops; to prepare ships for defence; to prepare an
entertainment. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
That they may prepare a city for habitation. --Ps.
cvii. 36
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To fit; adjust; adapt; qualify; equip; provide; form;
make; make; ready.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Prepare \Pre*pare"\, v. i.
1. To make all things ready; to put things in order; as, to
prepare for a hostile invasion. "Bid them prepare for
dinner." --Shak.
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2. To make one's self ready; to get ready; to take the
necessary previous measures; as, to prepare for death.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Prepare \Pre*pare"\, n.
Preparation. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]