precursor

[priːˈkɜːsə(r)]

precursor Definition

  • 1a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind and indicates that it will follow or is likely to do so
  • 2a substance from which another, usually more active or mature, substance is formed

Using precursor: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "precursor" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The steam engine was a precursor to the modern locomotive.

  • Example

    The company's success in the domestic market was a precursor to its expansion overseas.

  • Example

    The discovery of gold was a precursor to the town's growth.

  • Example

    The early signs of the disease are often precursors to more serious symptoms.

precursor Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for precursor

Idioms Using precursor

  • something that happens before and indicates the coming of something else

    Example

    The invention of the printing press was a precursor to the Information Age.

  • to be an early indication or sign of something that will happen in the future

    Example

    The stock market crash of 1929 was a precursor of the Great Depression.

  • to create the conditions that make something possible

    Example

    The development of the Internet set the stage for the digital revolution.

Phrases with precursor

  • a cell that gives rise to another cell type

    Example

    Stem cells are precursor cells that can differentiate into many different types of cells.

  • a molecule that is converted into another molecule through a chemical reaction

    Example

    Cholesterol is a precursor molecule for the synthesis of steroid hormones.

  • a protein that is converted into another protein through post-translational modification

    Example

    Insulin is synthesized as a precursor protein called proinsulin.

Origins of precursor

from Latin 'praecursor', meaning 'forerunner'

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Summary: precursor in Brief

'Precursor' [priːˈkɜːsə(r)] refers to a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind and indicates that it will follow or is likely to do so. It also refers to a substance from which another, usually more active or mature, substance is formed. Examples include the steam engine as a precursor to the modern locomotive and the early signs of a disease as precursors to more serious symptoms. The idiom 'set the stage for something' is often used to describe the precursor to a significant event.