proto
adj. C1 Advanced US //ˈpɹoʊtə// pro·to
adj. describing an early version of something that is still developing. You use it for things that are the first of their kind or not yet finished.
adj. relating to an original, primitive, or earliest form of something. Often used to describe a precursor that lacks the full features of the final version.
The team is testing a proto version of the new app.
The researcher discovered a proto-language that eventually evolved into several modern dialects across the region.
While the current model is highly sophisticated, its proto-design was a simple wooden frame built in a garage by two students.
From the prefix proto-.
Usage
Often used as a prefix with a hyphen, though it can stand alone as an adjective in informal technical contexts.