precursor

noun
UK: /priːˈkɜː.sər/
US: /priːˈkɝː.sɚ/

  1. Something that came before another thing and may have influenced it.

    1. The car is a precursor to flying cars we have today
    2. The steam engine was an important precursor to the Industrial Revolution because of the power.

  2. A substance that is used in a chemical reaction to produce another substance.

    1. This drug has precursor chemicals to cure the decease
    2. Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with sleep.

Synonyms

forerunner antecedent predecessor harbinger

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "precursor" in English means: Something that came before another thing and may have influenced it., A substance that is used in a chemical reaction to produce another substance..

The phonetic transcription of "precursor" is /priːˈkɜː.sər/ in British English and /priːˈkɝː.sɚ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "precursor": forerunner, antecedent, predecessor, harbinger.

Example usage of "precursor": "The car is a precursor to flying cars we have today". More examples on the page.