lead1

verb (past and past participle led /led/)

• 1cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc., while moving forward:she emerged leading a bay horse
• show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them:she stood up and led her friend to the door
• be a reason or motive for (someone):nothing that I have read about the case leads me to the conclusion that anything untoward happened [with object and infinitive]:a fascination for art led him to start a collection of paintings
• [no object] be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction:a door leading to a better-lit corridor
• [no object] (lead to) culminate in (a particular event):closing the plant will lead to the loss of 300 jobs

• 2be in charge or command of:a military delegation was led by the Chief of Staff
• organize and direct:the conference included sessions led by people with personal knowledge of the area
• set (a process) in motion:they are waiting for an expansion of world trade to lead a recovery
• be the principal player of (a group of musicians):since the forties he has led his own big bands
• [no object] (lead with) assign the most important position to (a particular news item):the news on the radio led with the murder

• 3be superior to (competitors or colleagues):there will be specific areas or skills in which other nations lead the world
• have the first place in (a competition); be ahead of (competitors):the veteran jockey was leading the field
• [no object] have the advantage in a race or game:Dallas was fortunate to lead 85-72

• 4have or experience (a particular way of life):she’s led a completely sheltered life

• 5initiate (action in a game or contest), in particular.
• (in card games) play (the first card) in a trick or round of play.
• [no object] (lead with) Boxing make an attack with (a particular punch or fist):Adam led with a left
• [no object] Baseball (of a base runner) advance one or more steps from the base one occupies while the pitcher has the ball:the runner leads from first

noun

• 1the initiative in an action; an example for others to follow:The US is now taking the environmental lead
• a clue to be followed in the resolution of a problem:detectives investigating the murder are chasing new leads
• (in card games) an act or right of playing first in a trick or round of play:it’s your lead
• the card played first in a trick or round.

• 2 (the lead) a position of advantage in a contest; first place:they were beaten 5-3 after twice being in the lead
• an amount by which a competitor is ahead of the others:the team held a slender one-goal lead
• Baseball an advance of one or more steps taken by a base runner from the base they occupy while the pitcher has the ball.

• 3the chief part in a play or film:she had the lead in a new film [as modifier]:the lead role
• the person playing the chief part:he still looked like a romantic lead
• [usually as modifier] the chief performer or instrument of a specified type:that girl will be your lead dancer
• [often as modifier] the item of news given the greatest prominence in a newspaper or magazine:the lead story

• 4a leash for a dog or other animal.

• 5a wire that conveys electric current from a source to an appliance, or that connects two points of a circuit together.

• 6the distance advanced by a screw in one turn.

• 7a channel, in particular.
• an artificial watercourse leading to a mill.
• a channel of water in an ice field.