PRECURSOR

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does precursor mean? 

• PRECURSOR (noun)
  The noun PRECURSOR has 3 senses:

1. a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)

2. a person who goes before or announces the coming of another

3. something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone

  Familiarity information: PRECURSOR used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRECURSOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("precursor" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Domain category:

biochemistry (the organic chemistry of compounds and processes occurring in organisms; the effort to understand biology within the context of chemistry)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A person who goes before or announces the coming of another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

forerunner; precursor

Hypernyms ("precursor" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "precursor"):

predecessor (one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

forerunner; harbinger; herald; precursor; predecessor

Hypernyms ("precursor" is a kind of...):

indicant; indication (something that serves to indicate or suggest)

 Context examples 

An acute leukemia characterized by the proliferation of both neutrophil and monocyte precursors.

(Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia, NCI Thesaurus)

Abnormally low or absent secretion of the androgen precursor hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and androstenedione, from the adrenal gland.

(Adrenal Androgen Deficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

It is considered as a possible precursor of colonic adenoma and carcinoma.

(Aberrant Crypt Focus, NCI Thesaurus)

These fragments are made from amyloid precursor protein and are found in the space between nerve cells.

(Human Cells Model Alzheimer’s Disease, NIH)

Simulation neurons could also constitute simple precursors for the amazing cognitive capacities of humans, such as ‘Theory of Mind’.

(‘Mindreading’ neurons simulate decisions of social partners, University of Cambridge)

Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and leukemia.

(Mouse Precursor B Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma and Leukemia, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

Form of leukemia characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of the myeloid lineage and their precursors in the bone marrow and other sites.

(Myeloid Leukemia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

It may arise from a low-grade astrocytoma, but it can also be diagnosed at first biopsy, without indication of a less malignant precursor lesion.

(Anaplastic Astrocytoma, NCI Thesaurus/WHO)

This allele, which encodes stromelysin-1 protein, plays a role in the regulation of matrix remodeling via the activation of matrix metalloproteinase precursors.

(MMP3 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Amyloid beta A4 precursor protein-binding family A member 1 (837 aa, ~93 kDa) is encoded by the human APBA1 gene.

(Amyloid Beta A4 Precursor Protein-Binding Family A Member 1, NCI Thesaurus)