pioneer */

I UK [ˌpaɪəˈnɪə(r)] / US [ˌpaɪəˈnɪr] noun [countable]
Word forms "pioneer":
singular pioneer plural pioneers

1) one of the first people to do something important that is later continued and developed by other people

pioneer of:

the pioneers of early colour photography

pioneer in:

The firm has been a pioneer in the pharmaceutical field since 1953.

2) one of the first people to travel to a new country and start living there, especially one of the first Europeans to start living in North America

II UK [ˌpaɪəˈnɪə(r)] / US [ˌpaɪəˈnɪər] verb [transitive]
Word forms "pioneer":
present tense I/you/we/they pioneer he/she/it pioneers present participle pioneering past tense pioneered past participle pioneered

to be a pioneer doing something for the first time

The approach was pioneered by American therapist Dr Bruce Fisher.