precursor

/prɪˈkɜrsər/
noun
  1. A person or thing that comes before and leads to the development of something else.
    • The first small protests were a precursor to a larger movement for change.
    • The steam engine was a precursor to modern trains.
    • Early experiments with radio waves were a precursor to today's wireless technology.
  2. A substance from which another substance is formed, especially in a chemical or biological process.
    • This chemical compound acts as a precursor in the synthesis of the drug.
    • The researchers identified a protein precursor that later becomes an active enzyme.
    • Cholesterol is a precursor to many hormones in the body.
Antonyms
What does "precursor" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean