pacesetter, pacemaker (noun)

a leading instance in its field

"the new policy will be a pacesetter in community relations"

pacemaker, cardiac pacemaker, sinoatrial node, SA node (noun)

a specialized bit of heart tissue that controls the heartbeat

pacemaker, artificial pacemaker (noun)

an implanted electronic device that takes over the function of the natural cardiac pacemaker

pacer, pacemaker, pacesetter (noun)

a horse used to set the pace in racing

pacemaker (Noun)

One who sets the pace in a race, to guide the others.

pacemaker (Noun)

A set of nerves which stimulate the heart to beat.

pacemaker (Noun)

A medical implement that is used to stimulate a heart to beat by simulating the action of the natural pacemaker.

Pacemaker

A pacemaker or pace-setter is a runner who leads a middle- or long distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast time and avoid excessive tactical racing. Pacemakers are frequently employed by race organisers for world record attempts with specific instructions for lap times. Some athletes have become essentially professional pacemakers. A competitor who chooses the tactic of leading in order to win is called a front-runner rather than a pacemaker. Pacemakers may be used to avoid the tactics of deception that are possible in competition by those who, for example, race away from the start line, giving the other runners the impression that they are far behind. A trusted team of pacemakers who are paid to keep the runner at a speed that they can manage for the rest of the race become useful in such a situation. Pacemakers are also used on world record attempts in order to make sure that the runner knows where their invisible 'opponent' predecessor is at that stage of the race. Pacemakers serve the role of conveying tangible information about pacing on the track during a race. Pacemaking gained much usage after Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway successfully paced Roger Bannister to break the four-minute mile for the first time in 1954.