lead (Meaning)

an advantage held by a competitor in a race

a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey

evidence pointing to a possible solution

a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase `take the 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)

the introductory section of a story

(sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning

an actor who plays a principal role

(baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base

an indication of potential opportunity

a news story of major importance

the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine

restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal

thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil

a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire

the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge

take somebody somewhere

produce as a result or residue

tend to or result in

travel in front of; go in advance of others

cause to undertake a certain action

stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point

be in charge of

be ahead of others; be the first

be conducive to

lead, as in the performance of a composition

lead, extend, or afford access

move ahead (of others) in time or space

cause something to pass or lead somewhere

preside over

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.

An article made of lead or an alloy of lead

A plummet or mass of lead, used in sounding at sea.

A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.

Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.

A small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils.

The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another.

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.

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.

An open way in an ice field.

A lode.

The course of a rope from end to end.

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.

the distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.

The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.

The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts.

A mark or a short passage in one voice part, as of a canon, serving as a cue for the entrance of others.

In an internal-combustion engine, the distance, measured in actual length of piston stroke or the corresponding angular displacement of the crank, of the piston from the end of the compression stroke when ignition takes place; -- called in full lead of the ignition. When ignition takes place during the working stroke the corresponding distance from the commencement of the stroke is called negative lead.

The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft.

In spiral screw threads, worm wheels, or the like, the amount of advance of any point in the spiral for a complete turn.

A conductor conveying electricity, as from a dynamo.

The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles.

The advance of the current phase in an alternating circuit beyond that of the electromotive force producing it.

A r/le for a leading man or leading woman; also, one who plays such a r/le.

To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.

To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.

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.

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.