Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - prepare

~ v 1 »MAKE STH READY« to make something such as a machine, a place, or a piece of writing ready to be used  (Mansell's team were up all night preparing the car for the race. | I'd better go upstairs and prepare her room. | Have you prepared your speech yet?) 2 »MAKE PLANS/ARRANGEMENTS« to make plans or arrangements for something that will happen in the future  (Olympus is preparing to launch a new range of cameras.) + for  (We only heard about the meeting yesterday, so we haven't started preparing for it yet.) prepare sth  (They've prepared a special surprise party for him. | The airlines have prepared contingency plans in case the strike goes ahead. | prepare to do sth)  (Her parents were busy preparing to go on holiday.) 3 »MAKE YOURSELF READY« to make yourself mentally or physically ready for something that you expect to happen soon  (prepare yourself (for))  (Prepare yourself for a shock. | They prepared themselves for a long wait. | Can you just give me a couple more moments to prepare myself? | prepare for action)  (The captain told the men to prepare for action.) 4 »TRAINING/EXPERIENCE« to provide someone with the training, skills, experience etc that they will need to do something or to deal with an unpleasant situation  (prepare sb for sth)  (a course that prepares students for English examinations | Schools should do more to prepare children for the world of work. | prepare sb to do sth)  (Nothing in his life had prepared him for this ordeal.) 5 »FOOD« to make food or a meal ready to eat  (Prepare the sauce while the pasta is cooking. | prepare sth for sb)  (John's preparing supper for us. | prepare sb sth)  (Helen had prepared us a wonderful meal.) 6 prepare the way for/prepare the ground for to provide the conditions that make it possible for something to be achieved, or for someone to succeed in doing something  (Curie's research prepared the way for the work of modern nuclear scientists.) 7 »MEDICINE/CHEMICAL« to make a medicine or chemical ready to be used, usually by mixing several substances  (Preparing herbal medicines requires a lot of skill and knowledge about different kinds of herbs.)