also pace-setter
(~s)
1.
A ~ is someone who is in the lead during part of a race or competition and therefore decides the speed or standard of the race or competition for that time.
Real’s victory keeps them five points behind the ~s, Barcelona...
Hammond was the early pace-setter.
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2.
A ~ is a person or a company that is considered to be the leader in a particular field or activity.
Mongolia seemed an unlikely candidate as the ~ for political change in Asia.
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