Definitions for leadlɛd

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

leadlid(v.; n.; adj.)led, lead•ing

(v.t.)to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort; guide:
to lead a group on a hike.
to conduct by holding and guiding:
to lead a horse by a rope.
to influence or induce; cause:
What led her to change her mind?
to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring:
You can lead him around to your point of view.
to go through or pass (time, life, etc.):
to lead a full life.
to conduct or bring (water, wire, etc.) in a particular course.
(of a road, passage, etc.) to serve to bring (a person) to a place:
The next street will lead you to the post office.
to take or bring:
The visitors were led into the senator's office.
to be in control or command of; direct:
He led the British forces during the war.
to go at the head of or in advance of (a procession, list, body, etc.); proceed first in:
The mayor will lead the parade.
to be superior to; have the advantage over:
The first baseman leads his teammates in runs batted in.
to have top position or first place in:
Iowa leads the nation in corn production.
to have the directing or principal part in:
Who is going to lead the discussion?
to act as leader of (an orchestra, band, etc.); conduct.
to begin a hand in a card game with (a card or suit specified).
Category: Games
to aim and fire a weapon ahead of (a moving target) in order to allow for the travel of the target while the missile is reaching it.
(v.i.)to act as a guide; show the way.
to afford passage to a place:
That path leads directly to the house.
to go first; be in advance.
to result in; tend toward (usu. fol. by to):
The incident led to her resignation.
to take the directing or principal part.
to take the offensive.
to make the first play in a card game.
Category: Games
to be led or submit to being led, as a horse.
(of a runner in baseball) to leave a base before the delivery of a pitch (often fol. by away).
Category: Sport
lead off, to begin; start. Baseball. to be the first player in the batting order or the first batter in an inning.
Category: Verb Phrase, Sport
lead on, to mislead.
Category: Verb Phrase
(n.)the first or foremost place; position in advance of others:
to take the lead in the race.
the extent of such an advance position.
a person or thing that leads.
a leash.
a suggestion or piece of information that helps to direct or guide; tip; clue.
a guide or indication of a road, course, method, etc., to follow.
precedence; example; leadership.
the principal part in a play. the person who plays it.
Category: Showbiz
the act or right of playing first in a card game. the card, suit, etc., so played.
Category: Games
the opening paragraph of a newspaper story, serving as a summary.
Category: Journalism
an often flexible and insulated single conductor, as a wire, used in electrical connections.
Category: Electricity and Magnetism
the act of taking the offensive.
Naut. the direction of a rope, wire, or chain. any of various devices for guiding a running rope.
Category: Nautical, Navy
Ref: Also called leader. 11
an open channel through a field of ice.
the act of aiming a weapon ahead of a moving target.
the distance ahead of a moving target that a weapon must be aimed in order to hit it.
(adj.)most important; principal; leading; first:
a lead editorial.
(of a runner in baseball) nearest to scoring.
Category: Sport

Origin of lead:

bef. 900; ME leden, OE lǣdan (causative of līthan to go, travel), c. OS lēdjan, OHG leiten

leadlɛd(n.; v.)lead•ed, lead•ing.

(n.)a heavy, comparatively soft, malleable, bluish-gray metal, sometimes found in its natural state but usu. combined as a sulfide, esp. in galena.
Category: Chemistry
Ref: Symbol: Pb 2
something made of this metal or of one of its alloys.
Category: Chemistry
a plummet or mass of lead suspended by a line, as for taking soundings.
Category: Civil Engineering
bullets shot.
black lead or graphite.
Category: Chemistry
a small stick of graphite, as used in pencils.
Category: Printing
Ref: Also, leading. 2 2 1
a grooved bar of lead in which sections of glass are set, as in stained-glass windows.
Category: Building Trades
leads,Brit. a flat lead roof.
Category: British
Category: Chemistry
Ref: white lead.
(v.t.)to cover, line, weight, treat, or impregnate with lead or a compound.
to insert leading between lines of type.
Category: Printing
to fix (window glass) in position with leads.
Category: Building Trades

Idioms for lead:

get the lead out,Slang. to move or work faster; hurry up.
Category: Idiom, Status (usage)

Origin of lead:

bef. 900; ME lede, OE lēad, c. OFris lād, MLG lōd, MHG lōt plummet

Princeton's WordNet

lead(noun)
an advantage held by a competitor in a race
"he took the lead at the last turn"
lead, Pb, atomic number 82(noun)
a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey
"the children were playing with lead soldiers"
lead, track, trail(noun)
evidence pointing to a possible solution
"the police are following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to the perpetrator"
lead(noun)
a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead')
"he takes the lead in any group"; "we were just waiting for someone to take the lead"; "they didn't follow our lead"
lead(noun)
the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)
lead, lead-in, lede(noun)
the introductory section of a story
"it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter"
lead(noun)
(sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning
star, principal, lead(noun)
an actor who plays a principal role
lead(noun)
(baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base
"he took a long lead off first"
tip, lead, steer, confidential information, wind, hint(noun)
an indication of potential opportunity
"he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job"
lead, lead story(noun)
a news story of major importance
spark advance, lead(noun)
the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine
leash, tether, lead(noun)
restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
lead, leading(noun)
thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
lead, pencil lead(noun)
mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil
jumper cable, jumper lead, lead, booster cable(noun)
a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire
"it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads"
lead(verb)
the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge
"the lead was in the dummy"
lead, take, direct, conduct, guide(verb)
take somebody somewhere
"We lead him to our chief"; "can you take me to the main entrance?"; "He conducted us to the palace"
leave, result, lead(verb)
have as a result or residue
"The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her blood left a stain on the napkin"
lead(verb)
tend to or result in
"This remark lead to further arguments among the guests"
lead, head(verb)
travel in front of; go in advance of others
"The procession was headed by John"
lead(verb)
cause to undertake a certain action
"Her greed led her to forge the checks"
run, go, pass, lead, extend(verb)
stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point
"Service runs all the way to Cranbury"; "His knowledge doesn't go very far"; "My memory extends back to my fourth year of life"; "The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets"
head, lead(verb)
be in charge of
"Who is heading this project?"
lead, top(verb)
be ahead of others; be the first
"she topped her class every year"
contribute, lead, conduce(verb)
be conducive to
"The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing"
conduct, lead, direct(verb)
lead, as in the performance of a composition
"conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years"
go, lead(verb)
lead, extend, or afford access
"This door goes to the basement"; "The road runs South"
precede, lead(verb)
move ahead (of others) in time or space
run, lead(verb)
cause something to pass or lead somewhere
"Run the wire behind the cabinet"
moderate, chair, lead(verb)
preside over
"John moderated the discussion"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

lead(verb)ɛd
≠ follow
She led the horse by the reins into the barn.; You lead in your car, and I'll follow.
leadɛd
to go or take to or toward
The road leads south out of the city.; A jungle path leads you to the campsite.; a wire leading into the wall
leadɛd
to be first or ahead of others in a competition, election, etc.
The Patriots are leading by three games in the league.; The country leads the world in automobile exports.
leadɛd
to cause, or to have a particular result
His discovery led him to stop believing in God.; All the evidence leads to the conclusion that he is guilty.
leadɛd
to be in charge or in control of sth
She has led the company for nine years.; The general led the attack.
leadɛd
to live in a particular way
Hollywood stars leading extravagant lifestyles
leadɛd
to go in front to show sb how to get somewhere
We left with Brian leading the way.
leadɛd
to be the first to do sth
This country should be leading the way in green technology.
leadɛd
to gain/lose the first position
The polls show the Republican taking the lead.
leadɛd
the amount of time, number of points, etc. sb is winning by; = advantage
a lead of 10 points; the team's big lead in the first half of the game
leadɛd
information that can help you learn more about sth; = clue
several new leads in the murder case
leadɛd
to do sth so that others also do it
a company that has taken the lead in cutting prices
leadɛd
an electrical cord or cable
an electrical lead
leadɛd
leash
lead(noun)ɛd
a soft gray metal that is a chemical element
lead pipes
leadɛd
the dark part of a pencil that makes marks
The lead broke.

Wiktionary

lead(Noun)
The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction, course; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another.
lead(Noun)
Precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; as, the white horse had the lead; a lead of a boatu2019s length, or of half a second; the state of being ahead in a race; the highest score in a game in an incomplete game.
lead
a metallic wire for electrical devices and equipments
lead
When a runner steps away from a base while waiting for the pitch to be thrown
The runner took his lead from first.
lead
(cards and dominoes) The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played; as, your partner has the lead.
lead
A channel of open water in an ice field.
lead
A lode.
lead
The course of a rope from end to end.
lead
A rope, leather strap, or similar device with which to lead an animal; a leash
lead(Verb)
To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.
lead(Verb)
To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, especially by going with or going in advance of, to lead a pupil; to guide somebody somewhere or to bring somebody somewhere by means of instructions. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler.
lead
To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party; to command, especially a military or business unit
lead
To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.
lead
To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause.
The evidence leads me to believe he is guilty.
lead
To guide or conduct oneself in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
lead
To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps
He led a double five.
lead
To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; u2014 used in most of the senses of the transitive verb.
lead
To be ahead of others, e.g., in a race
lead
In a steam engine, The width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.
lead
charging lead
lead
The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.
lead
The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet. u2014 Claudias Saunier
lead
Hypothesis that has not been pursued
The investigation stalled when all leads turned out to be dead ends.
lead
Information obtained by a detective or police officer that allows him or her to discover further details about a crime or incident.
lead
Potential opportunity for a sale or transaction, a potential customer.
Joe is a great addition to our sales team, he has numerous leads in the paper industry.
lead
Information obtained by a news reporter about an issue or subject that allows him or her to discover more details.
lead
The player who throws the first two rocks for a team.
lead
A teaser; a lead in; the start of a newspaper column, telling who, what, when, where, why and how. (Sometimes spelled as lede for this usage to avoid ambiguity.)
lead
An important news story that appears on the front page of a newspaper or at the beginning of a news broadcast
lead
The axial distance a screw thread travels in one revolution. It is equal to the pitch times the number of starts.
lead
In a barbershop quartet, the person who sings the melody, usually the second tenor
lead
To have the highest interim score in a game
lead
To be more advanced in technology or business than others
lead
To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices.
lead
To lead off or out, to go first; to begin.
lead
To produce.
The shock led to a change in his behaviour.
lead
To step off base and move towards the next base.
The batter always leads off base.
lead
To aim in front of a moving target, in order that the shot may hit the target as it passes.
lead(Adjective)
Foremost.
The contestants are all tied; no one has the lead position.

Origin: From leed, from lead, from laudan, from lAudh-. Cognate with leid, lede, lud, luad, lead, lood, Lot, lod, lóð, luaidhe, liudē.

Webster Dictionary

Lead(noun)
one of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic weight, 206.4. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide
Lead(noun)
an article made of lead or an alloy of lead
Lead(noun)
a plummet or mass of lead, used in sounding at sea
Lead(noun)
a thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing
Lead(noun)
sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates
Lead(noun)
a small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils
Lead(verb)
to cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle
Lead(verb)
to place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter
Lead(verb)
to guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man
Lead(verb)
to guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil
Lead(verb)
to conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party
Lead(verb)
to go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages
Lead(verb)
to draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause
Lead(verb)
to guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course)
Lead(verb)
to begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led
Lead(verb)
to guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; -- used in most of the senses of lead, v. t
Lead(verb)
to tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices
Lead(noun)
the act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another
Lead(noun)
precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; as, the white horse had the lead; a lead of a boat's length, or of half a second
Lead(noun)
the act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played; as, your partner has the lead
Lead(noun)
an open way in an ice field
Lead(noun)
a lode
Lead(noun)
the course of a rope from end to end
Lead(noun)
the width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke
Lead(noun)
the distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment
Lead(noun)
the action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet