/bɪˈfɔ:(r) ||; bɪˈfɔr/prep conj 1 earlier than sb/sth; earlier than the time that （时间方面）先于，早于: You can call me any time before 10 o'clock. 10点钟前你可以随时打电话给我。the week before last 上上星期They should be here before long (= soon). 他们不久就该到达。Turn the lights off before you leave. 离开前要关灯。
2 in front of sb/sth (in an order) （次序方面）先于，前于: ‘H’ comes before ‘N’ in the alphabet. 按英语字母的次序，H 在 N 之前。A very difficult task lies before us. 有项十分艰巨的任务摆在我们面前。a company that puts profit before safety (= thinks profit is more important than safety) 一家重视利润甚于安全的公司
3 (formal 正式) in a position in front of sb/sth （位置方面）在前面: They knelt before the altar. 他们跪在圣坛前。You will appear before the judge tomorrow. 你明天将在法官面前应讯。
4 rather than 宁愿；宁可: I'd die before I apologized to him! 我宁愿死也不向他道歉！