a person or thing that precedes the coming or development of someone or something else 前驱,先驱,先导 the ice safe was a forerunner of today's refrigerator. 冰柜是现代电冰箱的前驱。 ■a sign or warning of something to come 前兆,预兆,征兆 overcast mornings are the sure forerunners of steady rain. 阴暗的早晨预示着肯定会有连绵阴雨。 ■(archaic)an advance messenger (古)先遣报信者