lead Hear it!

lead¹ Definition

lead (lēd)

transitive verb led, lead·ing

    1. to show the way to, or direct the course of, by going before or along with; conduct; guide
    2. to show (the way) in this manner
    3. to mark the way for lights to lead you there
  1. to guide, or cause to follow one, by physical contact, holding the hand, pulling a rope, etc. to lead a horse by the bridle
  2. to conduct (water, steam, rope, etc.) in a certain direction, channel, or the like
    1. to guide or direct, as by persuasion or influence, to a course of action or thought to lead pupils to think clearly
    2. to cause; prompt trouble that led him to drink
  3. to be the head of; specif.,
    1. to proceed at the front of (a parade, etc.)
    2. to act as chief officer of; command the operations of (a military unit)
    3. to direct operations of (an expedition, etc.)
    4. to direct, conduct, or serve as the leader or conductor of (an orchestra, ballet, etc.)
    1. to be the first or foremost among; be at the head of to lead one's class in grades
    2. to be ahead of by a specified margin
    1. to live; spend; pass to lead a hard life
    2. to cause to live or spend to lead someone a dog's life
  4. to aim a rifle, throw a ball, etc. just ahead of (a moving target or receiver)
  5. 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

  1. to show the way by going before or along; act as guide
  2. to be led; submit to being led: said esp. of a horse
  3. to be or form a way (to, from, under, etc.); tend in a certain direction; go
  4. to come, or bring one, as a result: with to one thing led to another, a cold can lead to pneumonia
  5. to be or go first; act as leader
  6. Boxing to aim a first blow or one designed to test an opponent's defense to lead with a right jab
  7. Card Games to play the first card of a hand or round

noun

  1. the part of director or leader; leadership to take the lead in a project
  2. example follow my lead
    1. first or front place; precedence the horse in the lead
    2. the amount or distance that one is ahead to hold a safe lead
  3. leash (sense )
  4. anything that leads or serves as a clue
  5. information that directs a salesperson to a potential customer, a source of new business, etc.
  6. a long, narrow, navigable passage in an ice pack or ice field
    1. the most important news story, as in a newspaper or telecast
    2. the opening words or paragraph of a news story, containing all the essential facts of the story
  7. Baseball a position taken by a base runner a short distance from his or her base in the direction of the next
  8. Boxing the act of leading, or the blow used
  9. Card Games the act or right of playing first, as in a hand, or the card or suit played
  10. Elec. a wire carrying current between two points in a circuit, between devices, etc.
  11. Mining a stratum of ore; lode, ledge, or vein
  12. Music the leading part or main melody in a harmonic composition
  13. Naut. the course of a rope
  14. Theater
    1. the principal role, or a main role, in a play or other production
    2. the actor or actress who plays such a role

adjective

acting as leader or being the leader the lead horse, the lead runner in a race

lead¹ Idioms

lead off

  1. to begin; start
  2. Baseball to be the first batter in the lineup or of an inning (sense )

lead on

  1. to conduct further
  2. to lure or tempt

lead someone a merry chase

to cause someone trouble by luring into a vain pursuit

lead up to

  1. to prepare the way for
  2. to approach (a subject) in a subtle or indirect way

lead with one's chin

Informal to act so imprudently as to invite disaster

lead² Definition

lead (led)

noun

  1. a heavy, soft, malleable, bluish-gray metallic chemical element used in batteries and in numerous alloys and compounds: symbol, Pb; at. no., 82
  2. anything made of this metal; specif.,
    1. 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
    2. any of the strips of lead used to hold the individual panes in ornamental windows: usually used in pl.
    3. Brit. sheets of lead used for covering a roof
    4. Printing a thin strip of type metal inserted to increase the space between lines of type
  3. bullets
  4. 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

made of or containing lead

transitive verb

  1. to cover, line, weight, or fasten with lead or leads
  2. Ceramics to glaze (pottery) with a glaze made primarily of lead
  3. Printing to increase the space between (lines of type) by inserting thin strips of type metal

lead Synonyms

lead

modif.

lead Synonyms

lead

n.

  1. The position at the front

    head, advance, first place, contact, point, edge, fore part, van, advanced guard, façade, front rank, first line, line of battle, scout, outpost, scouting party, patrol, sniper scouts, advance position, cutting edge, forerunner; see also front 2, vanguard.

    Antonyms end*, rear*, last place.

  2. Leadership

    direction, guidance, headship; see administration 1, leadership 1, 2.

  3. A clue

    evidence, trace, hint; see proof 1, sign 1.

  4. A leading performer

    diva, prima donna, star; see actor 1, actress.

  5. A leading role

    principal part, important role, chief character, heavy*, fat lines*, lead spot*, standout role*, top bracket*, top spot*; see also role.

lead Synonyms

lead

n.

metallic lead, galena, blue lead; see element 2, metal.

lead Synonyms

lead

v.

  1. To conduct

    guide, head, precede, steer, pilot, attend, direct, channel, orient, show the way, point, point the way, show in, show to, show around, convoy, point out, squire, escort, chaperone, accompany, protect, guard, safeguard, watch over, convey, go along with, drive, shepherd, feel out the path, discover the way, find a way through, be responsible for; see also manage 1.

    Antonyms follow*, be conveyed, be piloted.

  2. To exercise leadership

    direct, manage, supervise; see command 2, manage 1.

  3. To influence

    prevail on, affect, spur (on); see influence, motivate.

  4. To play a first card

    start, commence, play first, take the initiative, make the start; see also begin 1.

  5. To extend

    traverse, pass along, span; see reach 1.

lead Usage Examples

Object

  • team: Students learn how to work in or lead a team.
  • way: This then led the way for the website design.
  • workshop: They led two educational workshop at the Colchester Institute on the 22nd October for the A-Level Students.
  • expert: Overseas Development Institute Blog The ODI blog provides commentary from leading development experts.
  • life: Some say her health is now suffering due to a life led in the fast lane.
  • manufacturer: We have a full range of shaft types and flexes - steel and graphite, from leading manufacturers.

Converse of object

  • take: Do you think you're taking a lead in any sense?
  • retake: With chances having been squandered at both ends, it was County who succeeded in converting one to retake the lead on 81 minutes.
  • deserve: But shortly after, Lynn took a deserved lead.

Preposition: onto

balcony: It has a patio door leading onto the balcony.

Modifies a noun

  • singer: An interview with Delirious Crosswalk.com Music Editor Matt Turner interviewed Martin Smith, lead singer for the British band Delirious.
  • vocal: Which female singer provided lead vocals for the group?
  • guitar: Devine opening chord sequence, lashings of keys, swirling lead guitar, and great vocals by Yates a real beauty.
  • guitarist: Glenn Tipton is one of the lead guitarists for British band Judas Priest.
  • vocalist: The band's chauffeur, Bon Scott, became their lead vocalist when their singer, Dave Evans, refused to go on-stage.
  • role: The trio talk about the origins of the piece and the importance of casting the two lead roles.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: Keith is with Malcolm for three weeks leading up to the British Junior Open.
  • down: At the end were some stairs which led down to the dentist school.

Infinitive complement

believe: Question the first: do you, as I am lead to believe all British do, enjoy drinking tea?

Noun used with modifier

instructor: In particular, I like the way TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material.

Browse dictionary entries near lead

  1. Leacock
  2. leachy
  3. leachate
  4. leach
  5. lea
  6. -le
  7. León
  8. Le Mans
  9. Le Havre
  10. Le Corbusier
  1. lead acetate
  2. lead arsenate
  3. lead balloon
  4. lead colic
  5. lead glass
  6. lead-in
  7. lead investor
  8. lead line
  9. lead off
  10. lead on