proto

BrE /ˈprəʊtəʊ/ AmE /ˈproʊtoʊ/

noun / adjective en → es

1 EARLIEST FORM [noun] B2

an early or original form of something that later develops into a more advanced version

primitivo, proto-

Collocations proto-language · proto-civilization

  • The proto-language from which all modern languages developed.

    El primitivo idioma del que derivaron todos los lenguajes modernos.

2 PRECURSOR [noun] B1

a thing that is a precursor or early form of something more advanced

precursor, antecesor

Collocations proto-technology · proto-society

  • The proto-technology that led to the invention of the wheel.

    La tecnología primitiva que llevó a la invención de la rueda.

3 PREFIX [prefix] C1

used in words that refer to an early or original form of something

proto- (prefijo)

Collocations proto-language · proto-civilization

  • The term 'proto-language' refers to the earliest form of a language.

    El término 'primitivo idioma' se refiere a la forma más antigua de un lenguaje.