前身的英文：
precursor
predecessor

参考例句：

The forerunners of the modern diesel engine
现代柴油机的前身.

An immature cell of the bone marrow that is the precursor of a myelocyte.
成髓细胞，原始粒细胞骨髓的一种未成熟细胞，是髓细胞的前身

Astronomy inherits from astrology.
天文学的前身是占星术。

Using interfacing as for the jacket front.
衬布与前身相同。

It was the precursor of or to the modem jet plane.
它是现代喷汽飞机的前身。

It seems that the Far East Games and West Asia Games were the predecessor of the Asian Games.
看来，远东运动会和西亚运动会就是亚运会的前身了。

The precursor of the modern car was a horseless carriage with a petrol engine.
现代汽车的前身是不用马拉的，装有汽油发动机的车子。

Real tennis, an ancient precursor of the modern game, originated in the eleventh century.
室内网球，现代网球运动的古老前身，起源于11世纪。

"Our work grew out of a small blast furnace plant, which is set up in 1913. "
我们厂的前身是一家小炼铁厂，建于1913年。

Lay the front bodice on a clean sheet of paper and place a pivot pin into the bust point.
把前身样板放在一张透明纸上并把大头针孔在胸点处。

precursor是什么意思：
n. 先驱，前导，先锋；预兆；前身

It was the precursor of or to the modem jet plane.
它是现代喷汽飞机的前身。

These include the chlorophyll precursor protochlorophyllide a
这些受体包括叶绿素的前体原叶绿酸a。

Crazing is the invariable precursor of brittle fracture.
出现小裂纹必然是脆性断裂的前兆。

That kind of surge may be a precursor to inflation.
这种飙升也许是通胀的前兆。

Error is often the precursor of what is correct.
错误常常是正确的先导。

predecessor是什么意思：
n. 前任，前辈；（被取代的）原有事物，前身

His predecessor was accorded an equally tumultuous welcome.
他的前任受到了同样热烈的欢迎。

The new building is more spacious than its predecessor.
这一新建筑比原先的更宽敞。

David was more politic and successful than his predecessor
大卫比他的前任精明，成就也较大。

He is a president living in the shadow of his predecessor.
他是一个在他的前任的声誉影响中过日子的总统。

She is using the same office as her predecessor.
她用的是她前任的办公室。