[ US /ˈɫɛd, ˈɫid/ ]
NOUN
  1. restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
  2. 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
  3. mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil
  4. a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase `take the lead')
    he takes the lead in any group
    they didn't follow our lead
    we were just waiting for someone to take the lead
  5. a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire
    it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads
  6. an advantage held by a competitor in a race
    he took the lead at the last turn
  7. the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge
    the lead was in the dummy
  8. the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine
  9. an actor who plays a principal role
  10. thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
  11. (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base
    he took a long lead off first
  12. the introductory section of a story
    it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter
  13. the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)
  14. an indication of potential opportunity
    a good lead for a job
    he got a tip on the stock market
  15. (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning
  16. a news story of major importance
  17. evidence pointing to a possible solution
    the police are following a promising lead
    the trail led straight to the perpetrator
VERB
  1. be in charge of
    Who is heading this project?
  2. travel in front of; go in advance of others
    The procession was headed by John
  3. produce as a result or residue
    The water left a mark on the silk dress
    Her blood left a stain on the napkin
  4. move ahead (of others) in time or space
  5. lead, extend, or afford access
    The road runs South
    This door goes to the basement
  6. cause something to pass or lead somewhere
    Run the wire behind the cabinet
  7. be ahead of others; be the first
    she topped her class every year
  8. preside over
    John moderated the discussion
  9. lead, as in the performance of a composition
    conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years
  10. be conducive to
    The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing
  11. cause to undertake a certain action
    Her greed led her to forge the checks
  12. tend to or result in
    This remark lead to further arguments among the guests
  13. take somebody somewhere
    can you take me to the main entrance?
    We lead him to our chief
    He conducted us to the palace
  14. stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point
    His knowledge doesn't go very far
    Service runs all the way to Cranbury
    The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
    My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
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How To Use lead In A Sentence

  • He described the sequence of events leading up to the robbery.
  • The Pepper Street gang, of which Jackie was the acknowledged leader, was not a gang of drug-selling hoods.
  • Band leader, Ray Blue, is also a composer, arranger and performer on tenor, alto and soprano saxophones.
  • Well, the good news is a few weeks ago they were talking about it being the main source of law, so there has been some concession there, which the Iraqi women leaders have been fighting for.
  • Neo-Liberal leadership is a lot like the mob: "Yooz can take de money or yooz can have terrible tings happen to ya."
  • Companies need to be able to handle surges, otherwise the cost of generating leads is wasted and prospective customers who cannot get through may get such a bad impression of the company that they do not bother calling back.
  • He was in awe of China and pleaded that if India should progress it should learn a lesson or two from the communist regime.
  • Despite their superficial similarity, submersion of minorities in English-only programs in the USA and Canadian immersion programs are different and they lead to different results.
  • Lead commentators, Don Cherry and Ron MacLean broadcast from a remote area. Mike Plume: “8:30 Newfoundland” « Mudpuddle
  • A minute later Arsenal extended their lead after breaking with searing pace.
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