ancestor

• 名词，指家族中较早世代的人，某个后代或群体由之繁衍而来；也泛指某事物的前身或先驱。

A noun referring to a person, typically from several generations earlier, from whom one is descended.

1. Person from whom one is descendedA2formal

   A person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended.

   祖先

   • My ancestors came from Ireland.
   • She researched her ancestors in the family tree.
   • The museum displays artifacts from ancient ancestors.

   同义词antecedentforebearforefatherpredecessorprogenitor

   反义词descendant

2. Early form of somethingB2formalscientific

   An early type of plant or animal from which a later, usually dissimilar, type has evolved.

   祖先

   • The dinosaur is considered an ancestor of modern birds.
   • This plant is an ancestor of the modern tomato.
   • Fossils reveal ancestors of today's mammals.

   同义词antecedentforebearforerunnerprecursorprogenitorprototype

   反义词descendant