lead
verb (1)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)Definition of lead (Entry 2 of 5)
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 voting
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
adjectiveDefinition of lead (Entry 3 of 5)
: acting or serving as a lead (see lead entry 2) or leader a lead article
Definition of lead (Entry 4 of 5)
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 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)Definition of lead (Entry 5 of 5)
1 : to cover, line, or weight with lead (see lead entry 4)
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
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