PIONEER

A pioneer is someone who sees potential, an innovator who is willing to try new things. A pioneer pushes boundaries to advance a cause or idea or break a record.
NOUN

1. a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others.
2. one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress: "pioneers in cancer research."
3. one of a group of foot soldiers detailed to make roads, dig entrenchments, etc., in advance of the main body.
4. Ecology. an organism that successfully establishes itself in a barren area, thus starting an ecological cycle of life.
5. (initial capital letter) Aerospace. one of a series of U.S. space probes that explored the solar system and transmitted scientific information to earth.
6. (initial capital letter) (formerly) a member of a Communist organization in the Soviet Union for children ranging in age from 10 to 16 (Komsomol, Octobrist).

VERB (used without object)

1. to act as a pioneer.

VERB (used with object)

1. to be the first to open or prepare (a way, settlement, etc.).
2. to take part in the beginnings of; initiate: to pioneer an aid program.
3. to lead the way for (a group); guide.

ADJECTIVE

1. being the earliest, original, first of a particular kind, etc.: a pioneer method of adult education.
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of pioneers: pioneer justice.
3. being a pioneer: a pioneer fur trader.

ORGIN

French pionnier, from Old French peonier, foot soldier, from peon, from Medieval Latin pedō, pedōn-, from Late Latin, one who has broad feet, from Latin pēs, ped-, foot; see ped- in Indo-European roots.