Short for preparation or preparatory school; can also mean to prepare something, especially food by cutting and arranging it.
Prep is a shortened form of 'preparatory,' which comes from Latin 'praeparare' meaning 'to prepare beforehand.' In British English, 'prep school' refers to primary schools preparing students for secondary education, while in American slang it often refers to college preparation.
The word 'prep' took on a whole cultural identity in America—'preppy' fashion and culture became synonymous with a specific socioeconomic class and style, showing how a simple abbreviation can balloon into a lifestyle brand!
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