lead 1 (l d)v. led (l d), lead·ing, leads v.tr.1. To show the way to by going in advance. 2. To guide or direct in a course: lead a horse by the halter. See Synonyms at guide. 3. a. To serve as a route for; take: The path led them to a cemetery. b. To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example). 4. To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce: led us to believe otherwise. 5. a. To direct the performance or activities of: lead an orchestra. b. To inspire the conduct of: led the nation in its crisis. 6. To play a principal or guiding role in: lead a discussion; led the antiwar movement. 7. a. To go or be at the head of: The queen led the procession. My name led the list. b. To be ahead of: led the runner-up by three strides. c. To be foremost in or among: led the field in nuclear research; led her teammates in free throws. 8. To pass or go through; live: lead an independent life. 9. To begin or open with, as in games: led an ace. 10. To guide (a partner) in dancing. 11. a. To aim in front of (a moving target). b. Sports To pass a ball or puck ahead of (a moving teammate) so that the player can receive the pass without changing direction or losing momentum. v.intr.1. To be first; be ahead. 2. To go first as a guide. 3. To act as commander, director, or guide. 4. To afford a passage, course, or route: a road that leads over the mountains; a door leading to the pantry. 5. To tend toward a certain goal or result: a remark that led to further discussion; policies that led to disaster. 6. To make the initial play, as in a game or contest. 7. To begin a presentation or an account in a given way: The announcer led with the day's top stories. 8. a. To guide a dance partner. b. To start a dance step on a specified foot. 9. Baseball To advance a few paces away from one's base toward the next while the pitcher is in the delivery. Used of a base runner. 10. Sports To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch: led with a right to the body. n.1. a. The first or foremost position. b. One occupying such a position; a leader. c. The initiative: took the lead in setting the pace of the project. 2. The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority: held a lead of nine points at the half. 3. a. Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue: followed a promising lead in the murder case. b. An indication of potential opportunity; a tip: a good lead for a job. 4. Command; leadership: took over the lead of the company. 5. An example; a precedent: followed his sister's lead in running for office. 6. a. The principal role in a dramatic production. b. The person playing such a role. 7. a. The introductory portion of a news story. b. An important, usually prominently displayed news story. 8. Games a. The first play. b. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left. c. A card played first in a round. 9. Baseball A position taken by a base runner away from one base in the direction of the next. 10. Sports A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches. 11. A leash. 12. Geology a. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed. 13. Electronics A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another. 14. Nautical The direction in which a line runs. 15. The distance aimed in front of a moving target. 16. A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice. adj.1. First or foremost: the lead leg on a surfboard. 2. Most important: the lead author of a research paper. Phrasal Verbs: lead off1. To begin; start. 2. Baseball To be the first batter in an inning. lead on1. To keep in a state of expectation or hope; entice. 2. To mislead; deceive. Idioms: lead the way1. To show a course or route by going in advance. 2. To be foremost in an endeavor or trend: The firm led the way in the application of new technology. lead up to1. To result in by a series of steps: events leading up to the coup. 2. To proceed toward (a main topic) with preliminary remarks.
[Middle English leden, from Old English l dan; see leit- in Indo-European roots.] |
lead 1 Verb [leading, led] 1. to show the way to (an individual or a group) by going with or ahead: he led her into the house 2. to guide, control, or direct: he dismounted and led his horse back 3. to influence someone to act, think, or behave in a certain way: researching our family history has led her to correspond with relatives abroad 4. to have the principal part in (something): planners led the development of policy 5. to go at the head of or have the top position in (something): the pair led the field by almost two minutes 6. (of a road or way) to be the means of reaching a place: the footbridge leads on to a fine promenade 7. to pass or spend: I've led a happy life 8. to guide or be guided by physical means: he took her firmly by the arm and led her home 9. to direct the course of (water, a rope, or wire) along or as if along a channel 10. (foll. by with)to have as the most important item: the Review leads with a critique of A Place of Greater Safety 11. Brit music to play first violin in (an orchestra) 12. to begin a round of cards by putting down the first card Noun 1. the first or most prominent place 2. example or leadership: some of his children followed his lead 3. an advantage over others: Essex have a lead of 24 points 4. an indication; clue: we've got a lead on how the body got into the water 5. a length of leather, nylon, or chain used to walk or control a dog 6. the principal role in a play, film, or other production, or the person playing such a role 7. the most important news story in a newspaper: the shooting makes the lead in the Times 8. the act of playing the first card in a round of cards or the card so played 9. a wire, cable, or other conductor for making an electrical connection Adjective acting as a leader or lead: lead singer
lead 2 Noun 1. a heavy toxic bluish-white metallic element: used in alloys, cable sheaths, paints, and as a radiation shield Symbol: Pb 2. a. graphite used for drawing b. a thin stick of this as the core of a pencil 3. a lead weight suspended on a line, used to take soundings of the depth of water 4. lead weights or shot, as used in cartridges or fishing lines 5. a thin strip of lead for holding small panes of glass or pieces of stained glass 6. leads a. thin sheets or strips of lead used as a roof covering b. a roof covered with such sheets 7. Also called: (leading) Printing a thin strip of metal, formerly used for spacing between lines of type Adjective of, relating to, or containing lead Verb to surround, cover, or secure with lead or leads [Old English lēad]
lead (ld) Symbol Pb A soft, ductile, heavy, bluish-gray metallic element that is extracted chiefly from galena. It is very durable and resistant to corrosion and is a poor conductor of electricity. Lead is used to make radiation shielding and containers for corrosive substances. It was once commonly used in pipes, solder, roofing, paint, and antiknock compounds in gasoline, but its use in these products has been curtailed because of its toxicity. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.2; melting point 327.5°C; boiling point 1,744°C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4. See Periodic Table. See Note at element. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | lead - an advantage held by a competitor in a race; "he took the lead at the last turn"advantage, vantage - the quality of having a superior or more favorable position; "the experience gave him the advantage over me" | | 2. |  lead - 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"metal, metallic element - any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc. galena - soft blue-grey mineral; lead sulfide; a major source of lead hard lead - unrefined lead that is hard because of the impurities it contains | | 3. |  lead - evidence pointing to a possible solution; "the police are following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to the perpetrator"evidence, grounds - your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief; "the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling" | | 4. | lead - 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" | | 5. | lead - the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)angle - the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians | | 6. | lead - the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter"section, subdivision - a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical); "he always turns first to the business section"; "the history of this work is discussed in the next section" | | 7. | lead - (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winningathletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition score - a number that expresses the accomplishment of a team or an individual in a game or contest; "the score was 7 to 0" deficit - (sports) the score by which a team or individual is losing | | 8. | lead - an actor who plays a principal roleco-star - one of two actors who are given equal status as stars in a play or film | | 9. | lead - (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base; "he took a long lead off first"baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; "there was a baseball game on every empty lot"; "there was a desire for National League ball in the area"; "play ball!" position, place - the particular portion of space occupied by something; "he put the lamp back in its place" | | 10. | lead - an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job" | | 11. |  lead - a news story of major importance | | 12. | lead - the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion enginetiming - the time when something happens | | 13. |  lead - restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animalconstraint, restraint - a device that retards something's motion; "the car did not have proper restraints fitted" | | 14. | lead - thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printingstrip, slip - artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material | | 15. |  lead - mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencillead pencil - pencil that has graphite as the marking substance | | 16. |  lead - a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire; "it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads"clip lead - a short piece of wire with alligator clips on both ends jumper - a small connector used to make temporary electrical connections | | 17. | lead - the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge; "the lead was in the dummy"turn, play - (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession; "it is my turn"; "it is still my play" | | Verb | 1. | lead - take somebody somewhere; "We lead him to our chief"; "can you take me to the main entrance?"; "He conducted us to the palace"hand - guide or conduct or usher somewhere; "hand the elderly lady into the taxi" usher, show - take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums; "The usher showed us to our seats" | | 2. | lead - have as a result or residue; "The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her blood left a stain on the napkin"give rise, bring about, produce - cause to happen, occur or exist; "This procedure produces a curious effect"; "The new law gave rise to many complaints"; "These chemicals produce a noxious vapor"; "the new President must bring about a change in the health care system" lead - tend to or result in; "This remark lead to further arguments among the guests" leave - act or be so as to become in a specified state; "The inflation left them penniless"; "The president's remarks left us speechless" leave - have left or have as a remainder; "That left the four of us"; "19 minus 8 leaves 11" | | 3. | lead - tend to or result in; "This remark lead to further arguments among the guests"entail, implicate - impose, involve, or imply as a necessary accompaniment or result; "What does this move entail?" lead, result, leave - have as a result or residue; "The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her blood left a stain on the napkin" | | 4. | lead - travel in front of; go in advance of others; "The procession was headed by John"precede, lead - move ahead (of others) in time or space draw away - move ahead of (one's competitors) in a race head up, head - be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel; "This student heads the class" | | 5. | lead - cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to forge the checks"cause, induce, stimulate, make, get, have - cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa" give - guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion; "You gave me to think that you agreed with me" | | 6. | lead - 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"be - occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere; "Where is my umbrella?" "The toolshed is in the back"; "What is behind this behavior?" come - extend or reach; "The water came up to my waist"; "The sleeves come to your knuckles" ray, radiate - extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center; "spokes radiate from the hub of the wheel"; "This plants radiate spines in all directions" range, run - change or be different within limits; "Estimates for the losses in the earthquake range as high as $2 billion"; "Interest rates run from 5 to 10 percent"; "The instruments ranged from tuba to cymbals"; "My students range from very bright to dull" go deep, go far - extend in importance or range; "His accomplishments go far" | | 7. | lead - be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?"chair, chairman - act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university; "She chaired the department for many years" captain - be the captain of a sports team spearhead - be the leader of; "She spearheaded the effort to find a cure for the disease" | | 8. |  lead - be ahead of others; be the first; "she topped her class every year" | | 9. | lead - be conducive to; "The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing" | | 10. | lead - lead, as in the performance of a composition; "conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years"music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest" perform, do, execute - carry out or perform an action; "John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters"; "the skater executed a triple pirouette"; "she did a little dance" conduct - lead musicians in the performance of; "Bernstein conducted Mahler like no other conductor"; "she cannot conduct modern pieces" | | 11. | lead - lead, extend, or afford access; "This door goes to the basement"; "The road runs South"be - occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere; "Where is my umbrella?" "The toolshed is in the back"; "What is behind this behavior?" | | 12. | lead - move ahead (of others) in time or spacego, locomote, move, travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" head, lead - travel in front of; go in advance of others; "The procession was headed by John" | | 13. | lead - cause something to pass or lead somewhere; "Run the wire behind the cabinet"guide, pass, run, draw - pass over, across, or through; "He ran his eyes over her body"; "She ran her fingers along the carved figurine"; "He drew her hair through his fingers" range, run - change or be different within limits; "Estimates for the losses in the earthquake range as high as $2 billion"; "Interest rates run from 5 to 10 percent"; "The instruments ranged from tuba to cymbals"; "My students range from very bright to dull" | | 14. | lead - preside over; "John moderated the discussion"hash out, talk over, discuss - speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion; "We discussed our household budget" |
lead verb 1. go in front (of), head, be in front, be at the head (of), walk in front (of) verb 3. connect to, link, open onto verb 4. be ahead (of), be first, exceed, be winning, excel, surpass, come first, transcend, outstrip, outdo, blaze a trail verb 5. command, rule, govern, preside over, head, control, manage, direct, supervise, be in charge of, head up verb 8. cause, prompt, persuade, move, draw, influence, motivate, prevail, induce, incline, dispose noun 9. first place, winning position, primary position, vanguard, van adjective 15. main, prime, top, leading, first, head, chief, premier, primary, most important, principal, foremost lead someone on entice, tempt, lure, mislead, draw on, seduce, deceive, beguile, delude, hoodwink, inveigle, string along ( informal) lead up to something introduce, approach, prepare for, intimate, pave the way for, prepare the way, make advances, make overtures, work round to  Translations lead [liːd] [ pt, pp led] n (= front position) → delantera (= distance, time ahead); ventaja (= clue); pista; to be in the lead ( SPORT) → llevar la delantera; to take the lead ( SPORT) → tomar la delantera; to lead sb on to ( induce) → incitar a algn a
 lead1 [liːd] [ led , pt , pp ] [lɛd] n (= front position) → tête f (= distance, time ahead); avance f (= clue); piste f; to be in the lead ( Sport) ( in race) → mener, être en tête: ( in match) → mener (à la marque); to lead sb on to (= induce) → amener qn à ( in conversation) → en venir à
lead2 [lɛd] n (= metal) → plomb m;
 lead1 [liːd] [ led , pt, pp ] n ( Sport), ( fig); Führung f (= clue); Spur f; lead away lead 1 vt → wegführen [+ prisoner etc]; abführen lead to lead 1 vt fus → führen zu lead up to lead 1 vt fus [+ events] → vorangehen +dat;
lead2 [lɛd] n → Blei nt;
 lead [liːd] n (= front position) → posizione f di testa (= distance, time ahead); vantaggio (= clue); indizio; ( ELEC) → filo (elettrico); vb [pt led, pp ] [lɛd] to lead sb to believe that ... → far credere a qn che ...; lead on to vt (= induce) → portare a
|
|
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
lead
