precursor
adjEtymology From pre- + cursor.
1
Communications, Electrical engineering, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Telecommunications Of intersymbol interference Caused by the following symbol.
- Related terms
- ISI
precursor
nounAU, UK /pɹɪˈkɜː.sə/ · CA, US /pɹɪˈkɜɹ.səɹ/
Etymology Inherited from Middle English precursour, from Middle French precurseur or its etymon Latin praecursor (“forerunner”). By surface analysis, precurse + -or.
1
That which precurses: a forerunner, predecessor, or indicator of approaching events.
- Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
2
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences One of the compounds that participates in the chemical reaction that produces another compound.
- Synonyms
- antecedent, beforemath, foremath, precedent, precursor, progenitor
- Antonyms
- aftermath, consecution, derivative, follower, sequel
- Derived terms
- bioprecursor, cardioprecursor, myoprecursor, nanoprecursor, neuroprecursor, nonprecursor, oligoprecursor, osteoprecursor, precursor enzyme, precursorial, precursorship, precursor tip, precursory
- Related terms
- cursor
- Hyponyms
- front matter, predecessor