lead·ing¹ (lḗdĭng)

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adjective 

1. Having a position in the lead; foremost: the leading candidate.
2. Chief; principal: the leading cause of high inflation. See synonyms at chief
3. Of or performing a lead in a theatrical production: a leading role; a leading lady.
4. Formulated so as to elicit a desired response: a leading question.

derivatives

lead́ing·ly

adverb

lead·ing² (lĕd́ĭng)

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noun 

1. A border or rim of lead, as around a windowpane.
2. Printing The spacing between lines, usually measured in points.

lead¹ (lēd)

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[Middle English leden, from Old English lǣdan.]

verb: led (lĕd), lead·ing, leads. 

transitive verb 

1. To show the way to by going in advance.
2. To guide or direct in a course: lead a horse by the halter. See synonyms at guide
3. 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).
4. To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce: led us to believe otherwise.
5. 1. To direct the performance or activities of: lead an orchestra.
   2. To inspire the conduct of: led the nation in its crisis.
6. To play a principal or guiding role in: lead a discussion; led the antiwar movement.
7. 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.
8. To pass or go through; live: lead an independent life.
9. To begin or open with, as in games: led an ace.
10. To guide (a partner) in dancing.
11. 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.

intransitive verb 

1. To be first; be ahead.
2. To go first as a guide.
3. To act as commander, director, or guide.
4. To afford a passage, course, or route: a road that leads over the mountains; a door leading to the pantry.
5. To tend toward a certain goal or result: a remark that led to further discussion; policies that led to disaster.
6. To make the initial play, as in a game or contest.
7. To begin a presentation or an account in a given way: The announcer led with the day's top stories.
8. 1. To guide a dance partner.
   2. To start a dance step on a specified foot.
9. 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.
10. Sports To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch: led with a right to the body.

noun 

1. 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.
2. The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority: held a lead of nine points at the half.
3. 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.
4. Command; leadership: took over the lead of the company.
5. An example; a precedent: followed his sister's lead in running for office.
6. 1. The principal role in a dramatic production.
   2. The person playing such a role.
7. 1. The introductory portion of a news story.
   2. An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
8. 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.
9. Baseball A position taken by a base runner away from one base in the direction of the next.
10. Sports A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches.
11. A leash.
12. Geology
    1. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    2. See lode
13. Electronics A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another.
14. Nautical The direction in which a line runs.
15. The distance aimed in front of a moving target.
16. A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice.

adjective 

1. First or foremost: the lead leg on a surfboard.
2. Most important: the lead author of a research paper.

phrasal verbs

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.

idioms

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.

lead² (lĕd)

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[Middle English led, from Old English lēad, probably of Celtic origin.]

noun 

1. A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes for corrosives, solder and type metal, bullets, radiation shielding, paints, and antiknock compounds. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.2; melting point 327.5°C; boiling point 1,744°C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4.
2. A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.
3. Bullets from or for firearms; shot: pumped the target full of lead.
4. Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.
5. Printing A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.
6. Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.
7. 1. Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.
   2. A thin stick of such material.

transitive verb: lead·ed, lead·ing, leads. 

1. To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead.
2. Printing To provide space between (lines of type) with leads.
3. To secure (window glass) with leads.
4. To treat with lead or a lead compound: leaded gasoline; leaded paint.

idioms

get the lead out

To start moving or move more rapidly.

derivatives

lead

adjective