leading edge

noun

\ ˈlē-diŋ-

Definition of leading edge

1 : the forward part of something that moves or seems to move

2 : the foremost edge of an airfoil

3 : cutting edge

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Examples of leading edge in a Sentence

the leading edge of an airplane's wing the leading edge of a thunderstorm

Recent Examples on the Web

The storm's leading edges lashed the state with bands of rain for most of the day, and some coastal roads were already underwater. — Janet Mcconnaughey, chicagotribune.com, "Tropical Storm Barry begins bashing Louisiana, threatening disastrous flooding," 12 July 2019 The thermal barrier coating is applied directly to rocket components to protect them from extreme heat, including structures like nozzles and leading edges. — Jennifer Larino, nola.com, "A New Orleans-area firm’s ‘radiation shield’ could save astronaut lives," 19 June 2019 Passengers sit along the leading edges, with fuel and cargo also stored in the wings. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "“Flying-V” airplane design promises fuel savings, but there’s a catch," 4 June 2019 The flash of brightwork at the doors’ leading edges is very like a BMW. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "2018 Kia Stinger GT2: The Best German Car to Come Out of South Korea," 6 Apr. 2018 Most stone chips are probably on your hood leading edge. — Paul Wright, Popular Mechanics, "How to Repair Car Paint Chips," 26 Feb. 2018 The end of ISIS’s temporal empire and first capital does nothing to spare the Middle East and the world of the array of strategic threats and headaches of which jihadis are but one leading edge. — Thanassis Cambanis, The Atlantic, "The War on ISIS Held the Middle East Together," 17 Oct. 2017 For more than 30 years, our three UA System campuses have been carving a leading edge in research through the EPSCoR consortium, improving education, the economy and scientific knowledge to benefit our state and nation. — Paul Gattis, AL.com, "UAH-led Alabama partnership awarded $20 million research grant," 19 Sep. 2017 Razor-sharp barnacles encrust the knobby leading edge of these appendages, and the whales brandish them with great dexterity. — Elin Kelsey, Smithsonian, "What Humpback Whales Can Teach Us About Compassion," 18 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leading edge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.