pacesetter

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

pacesetter
    n 1: a leading instance in its field; "the new policy will be a
         pacesetter in community relations" [syn: {pacesetter},
         {pacemaker}]
    2: a horse used to set the pace in racing [syn: {pacer},
       {pacemaker}, {pacesetter}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

pacesetter \pacesetter\ n.
   A horse used to set the pace in racing.

   Syn: pacer, pacemaker.
        [WordNet 1.5]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "pacesetter":
      Mahdi, bell cow, bell mare, bellwether, born leader,
      charismatic leader, choirmaster, choragus, conductor, coryphaeus,
      duce, file leader, forerunner, fugleman, inspired leader, leader,
      leader of men, messiah, pacemaker, precentor, ringleader,
      standard-bearer, symphonic conductor, torchbearer

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