lead1

verb (past and past participle led /lɛd/)

• 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
• [with object and adverbial of direction] 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

• 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (usually lead to) be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction:the door led to a better-lit corridor a farm track led off to the left
• [with object] 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] culminate or result in (a particular event or consequence):closing the plant will lead to 300 job losses fashioning a policy appropriate to the situation entails understanding the forces that led up to it

• 3be 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
• be the principal player of (a group of musicians):since the forties he has led his own big bands
• set (a process) in motion:they are waiting for an expansion of world trade to lead a recovery
• [no object] (lead (off) with) begin a report or text with a particular item:the radio news led with the murder
• [no object] (lead with) Boxing make an attack with (a particular punch or fist):Adam led with a left
• (in card games) play (the first card) in a trick or round of play: he led the ace and another heart [no object]:it’s your turn to lead

• 4 [no object] have the advantage over competitors in a race or game: [with complement]:he followed up with a break of 105 to lead 3-0 [with object]:the Wantage jockey was leading the field
• [with object] be superior to (competitors or colleagues):there will be specific areas or skills in which other nations lead the world

• 5have or experience (a particular way of life):she’s led a completely sheltered life

noun

• 1the initiative in an action; an example for others to follow:Britain is now taking the lead in environmental policies
• 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: the ♦8 was an inspired lead

• 2 (the lead) a position of advantage in a contest; first place:the team burst into life and took the lead 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

• 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:a lead guitarist
• [often as modifier] the item of news given the greatest prominence in a newspaper or magazine:the lead story

• 4British a strap or cord for restraining and guiding a dog or other domestic animal: the dog is our constant walking companion and is always kept on a lead

• 5British a 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.

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