leading edge

noun \ ˈlē-diŋ- \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

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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leading-edge

play \ˈlē-diŋ-ˈej\ adjective

See leading edge defined for English-language learners

Examples of leading edge in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of leading edge from the Web

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.