Dictionary entries for 'lead off'

Synonyms

lead¹ (lēd)

[Middle English leden, from Old English lǣdan.]

verb: led (lĕd), lead·ing, leads.

To show the way to by going in advance.
To guide or direct in a course: lead a horse by the halter. See synonyms at guide
1. To serve as a route for; take: The path led them to a cemetery.
2. To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example).
To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce: led us to believe otherwise.
1. To direct the performance or activities of: lead an orchestra.
2. To inspire the conduct of: led the nation in its crisis.
To play a principal or guiding role in: lead a discussion; led the antiwar movement.
1. To go or be at the head of: The queen led the procession. My name led the list.
2. To be ahead of: led the runner-up by three strides.
3. To be foremost in or among: led the field in nuclear research; led her teammates in free throws.
To pass or go through; live: lead an independent life.
To begin or open with, as in games: led an ace.
To guide (a partner) in dancing.
1. To aim in front of (a moving target).
2. Sports To pass a ball or puck ahead of (a moving teammate) so that the player can receive the pass without changing direction or losing momentum.

To be first; be ahead.
To go first as a guide.
To act as commander, director, or guide.
To afford a passage, course, or route: a road that leads over the mountains; a door leading to the pantry.
To tend toward a certain goal or result: a remark that led to further discussion; policies that led to disaster.
To make the initial play, as in a game or contest.
To begin a presentation or an account in a given way: The announcer led with the day's top stories.
1. To guide a dance partner.
2. To start a dance step on a specified foot.
Baseball To advance a few paces away from one's base toward the next while the pitcher is in the delivery. Used of a base runner.
Sports To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch: led with a right to the body.

1. The first or foremost position.
2. One occupying such a position; a leader.
3. The initiative: took the lead in setting the pace of the project.
The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority: held a lead of nine points at the half.
1. Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue: followed a promising lead in the murder case.
2. An indication of potential opportunity; a tip: a good lead for a job.
Command; leadership: took over the lead of the company.
An example; a precedent: followed his sister's lead in running for office.
1. The principal role in a dramatic production.
2. The person playing such a role.
1. The introductory portion of a news story.
2. An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
Games
1. The first play.
2. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left.
3. A card played first in a round.
Baseball A position taken by a base runner away from one base in the direction of the next.
Sports A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches.
A leash.
Geology
1. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
2. See lode
Electronics A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another.
Nautical The direction in which a line runs.
The distance aimed in front of a moving target.
A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice.

lead off: To begin; start.; Baseball To be the first batter in an inning.
lead on: To keep in a state of expectation or hope; entice.; To mislead; deceive.

lead the way: To show a course or route by going in advance. To be foremost in an endeavor or trend: The firm led the way in the application of new technology.
lead up to: To result in by a series of steps: events leading up to the coup. To proceed toward (a main topic) with preliminary remarks.