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| pi·o·neer [ p ə nr ] |
noun (plural pi·o·neers) |
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| Definition: |
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1. inventor or innovator: a person or group that is the first to do something or that leads in developing something new
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2. first person to explore territory: a person who is one of the first from another country or region to explore or settle a new area
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3. soldier who builds things: a foot soldier whose duties include going ahead of the main company to construct things to pave the way for them
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4. first species to grow somewhere: the first species of plant or animal life to begin living in a previously unoccupied site, e.g. a moss beginning to grow on otherwise bare rock
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verb (past and past participle pi·o·neered, present participle pi·o·neer·ing, 3rd person present singular pi·o·neers) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb invent new thing: to experiment with or develop something new
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2. transitive and intransitive verb go into unexplored territory: to go into previously uncharted or unclaimed territory with the purpose of exploring it and possibly settling it
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3. intransitive verb act as pioneer: to act as a pioneer in a particular field
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| [Early 16th century. < French pionnier< medieval Latin pedon- "foot soldier" < Latin ped- "foot"] |
