lead

1a (1) :  leadership look to the president for a unifying lead — D. W. Brogan (2) :  example, precedent followed the lead of the majority leader in votingb (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 asa :  lode 2b :  a channel of water especially through a field of icec :  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 rolee :  leash 1 train a dog to walk on a leadf (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 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

:  acting or serving as a lead (see ²lead) or leader a lead article

1 :  a bluish-white soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic heavy metallic element found mostly in combination and used especially in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity — see element table

2a :  a plummet for sounding at seab leads plural, British :  a usually flat lead roofc leads plural :  lead framing for panes in windowsd :  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 pencilb :  white lead

4 :  bullets, projectiles

5 :  tetraethyl lead

1 :  to cover, line, or weight with lead (see ⁴lead)

2 :  to fix (window glass) in position with leads

3 :  to put space between the lines of (typeset matter)

4 :  to treat or mix with lead or a lead compound leaded gasoline

1 :  to guide on a way often by going ahead You lead and we will follow.

2 :  to be at the head or front part of She led the parade.

3 :  to direct or guide the actions of lead an orchestra

4 :  to be best, first, or ahead The champs led by 15 points.

5 :  to go through :  live They lead a happy life.

6 :  to reach or go in a certain direction This road leads to town.

1 :  position at the front He took the lead.

2 :  the amount or distance that a person or thing is ahead The team had a ten point lead.

3 :  the main role in a movie or play

4 :  something serving as an indication or clue Police followed their only lead.

5 :  the first part of a news story

1 :  a heavy soft gray metallic element that is easily bent and shaped

2 :  a long thin piece of graphite used in pencils

3 :  ammunition a shower of lead

:  a flexible or solid insulated conductor connected to or leading out from an electrical device (as an electroencephalograph)

1:  a heavy soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic bluish white metallic element found mostly in combination and used especially in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity—symbol Pb; see element table

2:  white lead

3:  tetraethyl lead

:  to suggest the desired answer to (a witness) by asking leading questions

:  something serving as a tip, indication, or clue the police have only one lead in the murder investigation