[pahy-uh-neer] 
| 1. | a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others. |
| 2. | one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress: pioneers in cancer research. |
| 3. | one of a group of foot soldiers detailed to make roads, dig intrenchments, etc., in advance of the main body. |
| 4. | Ecology. an organism that successfully establishes itself in a barren area, thus starting an ecological cycle of life. |
| 5. | (initial capital letter ) Aerospace. one of a series of U.S. space probes that explored the solar system and transmitted scientific information to earth. |
| 6. | (initial capital letter) (formerly) a member of a Communist organization in the Soviet Union for children ranging in age from 10 to 16. Compare Komsomol, Octobrist. |
| 7. | to act as a pioneer. |
| 8. | to be the first to open or prepare (a way, settlement, etc.). |
| 9. | to take part in the beginnings of; initiate: to pioneer an aid program. |
| 10. | to lead the way for (a group); guide. |
| 11. | being the earliest, original, first of a particular kind, etc.: a pioneer method of adult education. |
| 12. | of, pertaining to, or characteristic of pioneers: pioneer justice. |
| 13. | being a pioneer: a pioneer fur trader. |
| pi·o·neer (pī'ə-nîr') n.
v. tr.
To act as a pioneer: pioneered in development of the laser. [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.] |
