lead
lead (lēd)
transitive verb led, leading lead′·ing
- to show the way to, or direct the course of, by going before or along with; conduct; guide
- to show (the way) in this manner
- to mark the way for lights to lead you there
- to guide, or cause to follow one, by physical contact, holding the hand, pulling a rope, etc. to lead a horse by the bridle
- to conduct (water, steam, rope, etc.) in a certain direction, channel, or the like
- to guide or direct, as by persuasion or influence, to a course of action or thought to lead pupils to think clearly
- to cause; prompt trouble that led him to drink
- to be the head of; specif.,
- to proceed at the front of (a parade, etc.)
- to act as chief officer of; command the operations of (a military unit)
- to direct operations of (an expedition, etc.)
- to direct, conduct, or serve as the leader or conductor of (an orchestra, ballet, etc.)
- to be the first or foremost among; be at the head of to lead one's class in grades
- to be ahead of by a specified margin
- to live; spend; pass to lead a hard life
- to cause to live or spend to lead someone a dog's life
- to aim a rifle, throw a ball, etc. just ahead of (a moving target or receiver)
- Card Games to begin the play with (a specified card or suit); lay down as the first card or suit of a hand or round
Etymology: ME leden < OE lædan, caus. of lithan, to travel, go, akin to Ger leiten: for IE base see load
intransitive verb
- to show the way by going before or along; act as guide
- to be led; submit to being led: said esp. of a horse
- to be or form a way (to, from, under, etc.); tend in a certain direction; go
- to come, or bring one, as a result: with to one thing led to another, a cold can lead to pneumonia
- to be or go first; act as leader
- ☆ Boxing to aim a first blow or one designed to test an opponent's defense to lead with a right jab
- Card Games to play the first card of a hand or round
noun
- the part of director or leader; leadership to take the lead in a project
- example follow my lead
- first or front place; precedence the horse in the lead
- the amount or distance that one is ahead to hold a safe lead
- leash (sense )
- anything that leads or serves as a clue
- information that directs a salesperson to a potential customer, a source of new business, etc.
- a long, narrow, navigable passage in an ice pack or ice field
- the most important news story, as in a newspaper or telecast
- the opening words or paragraph of a news story, containing all the essential facts of the story
- ☆ Baseball a position taken by a base runner a short distance from his or her base in the direction of the next
- ☆ Boxing the act of leading, or the blow used
- Card Games the act or right of playing first, as in a hand, or the card or suit played
- Elec. a wire carrying current between two points in a circuit, between devices, etc.
- ☆ Mining a stratum of ore; lode, ledge, or vein
- Music the leading part or main melody in a harmonic composition
- Naut. the course of a rope
- Theater
- the principal role, or a main role, in a play or other production
- the actor or actress who plays such a role
adjective
lead off
- to begin; start
- ☆ Baseball to be the first batter in the lineup or of an inning (sense )
lead on
- to conduct further
- to lure or tempt
lead someone a merry chase
lead up to
- to prepare the way for
- to approach (a subject) in a subtle or indirect way
lead with one's chin
lead (led)
noun
- a heavy, soft, malleable, bluish-gray metallic chemical element used in batteries and in numerous alloys and compounds: symbol, Pb; at. no., 82
- anything made of this metal; specif.,
- a weight for measuring depth of water at sea, in a harbor, etc.: it is attached to a line and tossed over the side of a ship
- any of the strips of lead used to hold the individual panes in ornamental windows: usually used in pl.
- Brit. sheets of lead used for covering a roof
- Printing a thin strip of type metal inserted to increase the space between lines of type
- bullets
- a thin stick of graphite, used in pencils
Etymology: ME lede < OE lead, akin to Du lood, Ger lot, plummet, prob. < Celt (as in MIr luaide, lead) < IE *ploud-, *pleud- < *pleu-, to flow < base *pel-, to flow, pour > L pluere, to rain, OIr lu-, to move
adjective
transitive verb
- to cover, line, weight, or fasten with lead or leads
- Ceramics to glaze (pottery) with a glaze made primarily of lead
- Printing to increase the space between (lines of type) by inserting thin strips of type metal
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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