lead
verb (1)
\ ˈlēd
\
\
led\ ˈled
\;
leading
\;
leading
Definition of lead
(Entry 1 of 5)
1a
: to guide on a way especially by going in advance
led the officers to his hiding place
b
: to direct on a course or in a direction
a road leading the traveler to the heart of the city
c
: to serve as a channel for
a pipe leads water to the house
2
: to go through : live
lead a quiet life
3a(1)
: to direct the operations, activity, or performance of
lead an orchestra
(2)
: to have charge of
lead a campaign
(3)
: to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions
counsel is leading this witness, putting words in her mouth— Erle Stanley Gardner
b(1)
: to go at the head of
lead a parade
(2)
: to be first in or among
lead the league
(3)
: to have a margin over
led his opponent
4
: to bring to some conclusion or condition
led to believe otherwise
5
: to begin play with
lead trumps
6a
: to aim in front of (a moving object)
lead a duck
b
: to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)
1a
: to guide someone or something along a way
You lead and we'll follow.
b
: to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction
path leads uphill
c
: to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance
2a
: to be first
This state leads in population.
3
: to tend toward or have a result
study leading to a degree
4
: to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing
lead
noun (1)
\ ˈlēd
\
\
Definition of lead (Entry 2 of 5)
1a(1)
: leadership
look to the president for a unifying lead— D. W. Brogan
b(1)
: position at the front : vanguard
The runner from Kenya was in the lead for most of the race.
(2)
: initiative
took the lead in fighting the measure
(3)
: the act or privilege of playing first in a card game
Your partner has the lead.
also
: the card or suit played first
His lead was the ace.
c
: a margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance
enjoys a good lead over all competitors
2
: one that leads: such as
a
: lode sense 2
b
: a channel of water especially through a field of ice
c
: indication, clue
The detectives had a few leads to follow.
d
: a principal role in a dramatic production
She was the romantic lead in the movie.
also
: one who plays such a role
e
: leash sense 1
train a dog to walk on a lead
f(1)
: an introductory section of a news story : lede
edit the lead to grab the reader's attention
(2)
: a news story of chief importance
The story of his arrest was the lead in newspapers across the country.
3
: an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device
4
: the course of a rope from end to end
5
: the amount of axial (see axial sense 2a) advance of a point accompanying a complete turn of a thread (as of a screw or worm)
6
: a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next
The runner on first took a big lead.
7
: the first punch of a series or an exchange of punches in boxing
lead
adjective
\ ˈlēd
\
\
Definition of lead (Entry 3 of 5)
: acting or serving as a lead (see lead entry 2) or leader
a lead article
\ ˈled
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\
Definition of lead (Entry 4 of 5)
1
: a soft, heavy, metallic element with atomic number 82 found mostly in combination and used especially in alloys, batteries, and shields against sound, vibration, or radiation — see Chemical Elements Table
2a
: a plummet for sounding at sea
b
leads plural, British
: a usually flat lead roof
c
leads plural
: lead framing for panes in windows
d
: a thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
3a
: a thin stick of marking substance (such as graphite) in or for a pencil
b
: white lead
4
: bullets, projectiles
5
: tetraethyl lead
lead
verb (2)