pioneer

pi·o·neer

Pioneers would sometimes travel in covered wagons when they headed into the western prairies.

noun

The definition of a pioneer is the first person orpeople to do something, such as explore new territory, test a theory or create a product.

The early Americans who set out to settle in the west areexamples of pioneers.

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"Pioneer." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/PIONEER.

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Pioneer. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PIONEER

pioneer

Archaic a member of a military engineer unit trained to construct or demolish bridges, roads, trenches, etc.
a person who goes before, preparing the way for others, as an early settler or a scientist doing exploratory work
a plant, animal, etc. that starts a new cycle of life in a barren area

Origin of pioneer

French pionnier from Old French peonier, foot soldier from peon: see peon

being one of the first of its kind
of or characteristic of the settlers of a new territory

to be a pioneer

to prepare or open (a way, etc.)
to be a pioneer in or of

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MLA Style

"Pioneer." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/PIONEER.

APA Style

Pioneer. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PIONEER

pioneer

noun

One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.
One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development: a pioneer in aviation.
A soldier who performs construction and demolition work in the field to facilitate troop movements.
A species that is typically among the first to become established in a bare, open, or disturbed area.

adjective

Of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers: the pioneer spirit.
Leading the way; trailblazing: a pioneer treatment for cancer.

verb

pi·o·neered, pi·o·neer·ing, pi·o·neers

verb

transitive

a. To venture into (an area) or prepare (a way): rockets that pioneered outer space.
b. To settle (a region).
To initiate or participate in the development of: surgeons who pioneered organ transplants.

verb

intransitive

To act as a pioneer: pioneered in development of the laser.

Origin of pioneer

French pionnier from Old French peonier foot soldier from peon from Medieval Latin pedō pedōn- from Late Latin one who has broad feet from Latin pēs ped- foot ; see ped- in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"Pioneer." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/PIONEER.

APA Style

Pioneer. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PIONEER

Noun

(plural pioneers)

One who goes before, as into the wilderness, preparing the way for others to follow.
A person or other entity who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress.
Some people will consider their national heroes to be pioneers of civilization.
Certain politicians can be considered as pioneers of reform.
A member of any of several European organizations advocating abstinence from alcohol.
(communism) A child of 10-16 years in the former Soviet Union, in the second of the three stages in becoming a member of the Communist Party.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present pioneers, present participle pioneering, simple past and past participle pioneered)

To go before and prepare or open a way for; to act as pioneer.

Origin

From Middle French pionier (“originally, a foot soldier"), Old French peonier, from peon (“a foot soldier") (modern French: pion). See pawn in chess.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.