curtain-raiser

n ~ (to sth) (a) short piece performed before the main play 序幕（正剧演出前的短剧）. (b) thing that precedes a similar but larger or more important event 序幕, 前奏（重大事件的开端）: border incidents that were curtain-raisers to a full-scale war 引发一场全面战争的边境事件.

currently, curriculum, curriculum vitae, curried, curry, curry powder, curry-comb, curse, cursed, cursedly, cursive, cursor, cursorily, cursory, curt, curtail, curtailed, curtailment, curtain, curtain-call, curtly, curtness, curtsey (also curtsy), curvaceous, curvature, curve, curved, curved glass, curvy, cushion, cushy, cusp, cuss, cussed, custard, custard pie, custodial, custodian, custody, custom,