"pioneer" in the noun sense
1. pioneer, innovator, trailblazer, groundbreaker
someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art
2. pioneer
one of the first colonists or settlers in a new territory
"they went west as pioneers with only the possessions they could carry with them"
"pioneer" in the verb sense
1. pioneer, open up
open up an area or prepare a way
"She pioneered a graduate program for women students"
2. initiate, pioneer
take the lead or initiative in participate in the development of
"This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants"
3. pioneer
open up and explore a new area
"pioneer space"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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