vanguard

noun

1. the position of greatest importance or advancement
the leading position in any movement or field

e.g. the Cotswolds were once at the forefront of woollen manufacturing in England
the idea of motion was always to the forefront of his mind and central to his philosophy

Synonym: forefrontcutting edge

2. the leading units moving at the head of an army

Synonym: van

3. any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

Synonym: avant-gardevannew wave

1. （革命或研究的）前沿；先锋，先驱
If someone is in the vanguard of something such as a revolution or an area of research, they are involved in the most advanced part of it. You can also refer to the people themselves as the vanguard.

e.g. Such thinking puts Kodak in the vanguard of a movement reshaping the computer industry...
这种想法使得柯达走在了改造计算机产业运动的最前沿。
e.g. Sir James was an immensely distinguished architect in the vanguard of his profession.
詹姆斯爵士是一位非常杰出的建筑师，处于其专业领域的前沿位置。

2. 先头部队;尖兵
The vanguard of an army is the part of it that goes into battle first.

e.g. ...a force of mobile reserve units that could strike quickly and effectively at the vanguard of an invading army.
能够对入侵的先头部队进行快速有效反击的机动预备部队