leadto conduct or escort: lead them out; a heavy bluish-gray metalNot to be confused with:led ? past tense of lead: He led them along the path.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreelead 1 (l?d)v. led (l?d), lead·ing, leads v.tr.1. To show the way to by going in advance: The host led us to our table. See Synonyms at guide.2. To guide or direct in a course: lead a horse by the halter.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 speed.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 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 or stand a few paces away from one’s base toward the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch. 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: a racer in the lead.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 film, play, show, or other scripted production.b. The person playing such a role.7. a. The introductory portion of a news story, especially the first sentence.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 An amount of space that a base runner moves or stands away from one base in the direction of the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch.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.b. See lode.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 2 (l?d)n.1. Symbol Pb A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes for corrosives, solder and type metal, bullets, radiation shielding, paints, glass, storage batteries, and antiknock compounds. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.2; melting point 327.5°C; boiling point 1,749°C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4. See Periodic Table.2. a. Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.b. A thin stick of such material.3. Bullets from or for firearms; shot: pumped the target full of lead.4. A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.5. Printing A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.6. leadsa. Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.b. Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.tr.v. lead·ed, lead·ing, leads 1. To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead.2. Printing To provide space between (lines of type) with leads.3. To secure (window glass) with leads.4. To treat with lead or a lead compound: leaded gasoline; leaded paint.Idiom: get the lead out Informal To start moving or move more rapidly.[Middle English led, from Old English l?ad, probably of Celtic origin.]lead adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.lead (li?d) vb, leads, leading or led (l?d) 1. to show the way to (an individual or a group) by going with or ahead: lead the party into the garden. 2. to guide or be guided by holding, pulling, etc: he led the horse by its reins. 3. (tr) to cause to act, feel, think, or behave in a certain way; induce; influence: he led me to believe that he would go. 4. (Law) (tr) to phrase a question to (a witness) that tends to suggest the desired answer5. (when: intr, foll by to) (of a road, route, etc) to serve as the means of reaching a place6. (tr) to go ahead so as to indicate (esp in the phrase lead the way)7. to guide, control, or direct: to lead an army. 8. (tr) to direct the course of or conduct (water, a rope or wire, etc) along or as if along a channel9. to initiate the action of (something); have the principal part in (something): to lead a discussion. 10. to go at the head of or have the top position in (something): he leads his class in geography. 11. (foll by: with) to have as the first or principal item: the newspaper led with the royal birth. 12. (Classical Music) music a. Brit to play first violin in (an orchestra)b. (intr) (of an instrument or voice) to be assigned an important entry in a piece of music13. (Dancing) to direct and guide (one’s partner) in a dance14. (tr) a. to pass or spend: I lead a miserable life. b. to cause to pass a life of a particular kind: to lead a person a dog’s life. 15. (foll by: to) to tend (to) or result (in): this will only lead to misery. 16. (Card Games) to initiate a round of cards by putting down (the first card) or to have the right to do this: she led a diamond. 17. (Shooting) (tr) to aim at a point in front of (a moving target) in shooting, etc, in order to allow for the time of flight18. (Boxing) (intr) boxing to make an offensive blow, esp as one’s habitual attacking punch: southpaws lead with their right. 19. lead astray to mislead so as to cause error or wrongdoing20. lead by the nose See nose13n21. a. the first, foremost, or most prominent placeb. (as modifier): lead singer. 22. example, precedence, or leadership: the class followed the teacher’s lead. 23. an advance or advantage held over others: the runner had a lead of twenty yards. 24. anything that guides or directs; indication; clue25. another name for leash26. (Card Games) the act or prerogative of playing the first card in a round of cards or the card so played27. (Theatre) the principal role in a play, film, etc, or the person playing such a role28. (Journalism & Publishing) a. the principal news story in a newspaper: the scandal was the lead in the papers. b. the opening paragraph of a news storyc. (as modifier): lead story. 29. (Classical Music) music an important entry assigned to one part usually at the beginning of a movement or section30. (Electronics) a wire, cable, or other conductor for making an electrical connection31. (Boxing) boxing a. one’s habitual attacking punchb. a blow made with this32. (Nautical Terms) nautical the direction in which a rope runs33. (Geological Science) a deposit of metal or ore; lode34. (Shooting) the firing of a gun, missile, etc, ahead of a moving target to correct for the time of flight of the projectile[Old English l?dan; related to l?than to travel, Old High German l?dan to go]lead (l?d) n1. (Elements & Compounds) a heavy toxic bluish-white metallic element that is highly malleable: occurs principally as galena and used in alloys, accumulators, cable sheaths, paints, and as a radiation shield. Symbol: Pb; atomic no: 82; atomic wt: 207.2; valency: 2 or 4; relative density: 11.35; melting pt: 327.502°C; boiling pt: 1750°C. 2. (Navigation) a lead weight suspended on a line used to take soundings of the depth of water3. swing the lead to malinger or make up excuses4. lead weights or shot, as used in cartridges, fishing lines, etc5. (Building) a thin grooved strip of lead for holding small panes of glass or pieces of stained glass6. (Building) (plural) a. thin sheets or strips of lead used as a roof coveringb. a flat or low-pitched roof covered with such sheets7. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing a thin strip of type metal used for spacing between lines of hot-metal type. Compare reglet28. (Art Terms) a. graphite or a mixture containing graphite, clay, etc, used for drawingb. a thin stick of this material, esp the core of a pencil9. (modifier) of, consisting of, relating to, or containing lead10. go down like a lead balloon See balloon9vb (tr) 11. to fill or treat with lead12. to surround, cover, or secure with lead or leads13. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing to space (type) by use of leads[Old English; related to Dutch lood, German Lot] ?leadless adj ?leady adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014lead1 (lid) v. led, lead?ing, n., adj. v.t. 1. to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort; guide: to lead a group on a hike. 2. to conduct by holding and guiding: to lead a horse by a rope. 3. to influence or induce; cause: What led her to change her mind? 4. to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring: You can lead him around to your point of view. 5. to go through or pass (time, life, etc.): to lead a full life. 6. to conduct or bring (water, wire, etc.) in a particular course. 7. (of a road, passage, etc.) to serve to bring (a person) to a place: The next street will lead you to the post office. 8. to take or bring: The visitors were led into the senator’s office. 9. to be in control or command of; direct: He led the British forces during the war. 10. to go at the head of or in advance of (a procession, list, body, etc.); proceed first in: The mayor will lead the parade. 11. to be superior to; have the advantage over: The first baseman leads his teammates in runs batted in. 12. to have top position or first place in: Iowa leads the nation in corn production. 13. to have the directing or principal part in: Who is going to lead the discussion? 14. to act as leader of (an orchestra, band, etc.); conduct. 15. to begin a hand in a card game with (a card or suit specified). 16. to aim and fire a weapon ahead of (a moving target) in order to allow for the travel of the target while the missile is reaching it. v.i. 17. to act as a guide; show the way. 18. to afford passage to a place: That path leads directly to the house. 19. to go first; be in advance. 20. to result in; tend toward (usu. fol. by to): The incident led to her resignation. 21. to take the directing or principal part. 22. to take the offensive. 23. to make the first play in a card game. 24. to be led or submit to being led, as a horse. 25. (of a runner in baseball) to leave a base before the delivery of a pitch (often fol. by away). 26. lead off, a. to begin; start. b. Baseball. to be the first player in the batting order or the first batter in an inning. 27. lead on, to mislead. n. 28. the first or foremost place; position in advance of others: to take the lead in the race. 29. the extent of such an advance position. 30. a person or thing that leads. 31. a leash. 32. a suggestion or piece of information that helps to direct or guide; tip; clue. 33. a guide or indication of a road, course, method, etc., to follow. 34. precedence; example; leadership. 35. a. the principal part in a play. b. the person who plays it. 36. a. the act or right of playing first in a card game. b. the card, suit, etc., so played. 37. the opening paragraph of a newspaper story, serving as a summary. 38. an often flexible and insulated single conductor, as a wire, used in electrical connections. 39. the act of taking the offensive. 40. Naut. a. the direction of a rope, wire, or chain. b. Also called leader. any of various devices for guiding a running rope. 41. an open channel through a field of ice. 42. the act of aiming a weapon ahead of a moving target. 43. the distance ahead of a moving target that a weapon must be aimed in order to hit it. adj. 44. most important; principal; leading; first: a lead editorial. 45. (of a runner in baseball) nearest to scoring. [before 900; Middle English leden, Old English l?dan (causative of l?than to go, travel), c. Old Saxon l?djan, Old High German leiten] lead2 (l?d) n., v. lead?ed, lead?ing. n. 1. a heavy, comparatively soft, malleable, bluish-gray metal, sometimes found in its natural state but usu. combined as a sulfide, esp. in galena. Symbol: Pb; at. wt.: 207.19; at. no.: 82; sp. gr.: 11.34 at 20°C. 2. something made of this metal or of one of its alloys. 3. a plummet or mass of lead suspended by a line, as for taking soundings. 4. bullets shot. 5. black lead or graphite. 6. a small stick of graphite, as used in pencils. 7. Also, leading. a thin strip of type metal or brass less than type-high, used for increasing the space between lines of type. 8. a grooved bar of lead in which sections of glass are set, as in stained-glass windows. 9. leads, Brit. a flat lead roof. 10. white lead. v.t. 11. to cover, line, weight, treat, or impregnate with lead or a compound. 12. to insert leading between lines of type. 13. to fix (window glass) in position with leads. Idioms: get the lead out, Slang. to move or work faster; hurry up. [before 900; Middle English lede, Old English l?ad, c. Old Frisian l?d, Middle Low German l?d, Middle High German l?t plummet] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.lead (l?d) Symbol Pb A soft, easily shaped, 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. Atomic number 82. See Periodic Table. See Note at element.The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.leadLead is used with various related meanings as a verb, singular noun, or countable noun, and with a totally different meaning and pronunciation as an uncountable noun.If you lead (/li?d/) someone somewhere, you show them the way by going in front of them, or by walking beside them holding their hand or arm. The past tense and -ed participle of ‘lead’ is led (/led/), not ‘leaded’.You do not say that you ‘lead’ someone somewhere in a car. You say that you drive or take them there.The person who has the lead in a race or competition is the one who is winning.You often say that someone is in the lead.A dog’s lead is a chain or long piece of leather or plastic which is attached to the dog’s collar so that you can control the dog.Note that the American word for this item is leash.Lead (/led/) is a soft, grey, heavy metal.