Definition of Lead

1. Noun. An advantage held by a competitor in a race. "He took the lead at the last turn"

Generic synonyms: Advantage, Vantage

2. Verb. Take somebody somewhere. "The men lead the horses across the field"; "He conducted us to the palace"
Exact synonyms: Conduct, Direct, Guide, Take
Specialized synonyms: Beacon, Hand, Lead Astray, Misdirect, Misguide, Mislead, Show, Usher
Derivative terms: Guide, Leader

3. Noun. 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"
Exact synonyms: Atomic Number 82, Pb
Generic synonyms: Metal, Metallic Element
Substance meronyms: Cerussite, White Lead Ore, Galena
Specialized synonyms: Hard Lead, Antimonial Lead, Hard Lead, Pig Lead

4. Verb. Have as a result or residue. "Her blood left a stain on the napkin"
Exact synonyms: Leave, Result
Generic synonyms: Bring About, Give Rise, Produce
Related verbs: Leave, Leave
Derivative terms: Result, Resultant, Resultant

5. Noun. Evidence pointing to a possible solution. "The trail led straight to the perpetrator"
Exact synonyms: Track, Trail
Generic synonyms: Evidence, Grounds
Derivative terms: Track

6. Verb. Tend to or result in. "This remark lead to further arguments among the guests"
Specialized synonyms: Entail, Implicate, Necessitate
Generic synonyms: Leave, Result

7. Noun. A position of leadership (especially in the phrase 'take the lead'). "They didn't follow our lead"
Generic synonyms: Leadership, Leading

8. Verb. Travel in front of; go in advance of others. "The procession was headed by John"
Exact synonyms: Head
Generic synonyms: Precede
Specialized synonyms: Draw Away
Related verbs: Head, Head Up
Derivative terms: Head, Head, Head, Leader

9. Noun. The angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile).
Generic synonyms: Angle

10. Verb. Cause to undertake a certain action. "They lead him to write the letter"; "Her greed led her to forge the checks"
Generic synonyms: Cause, Get, Have, Induce, Make, Stimulate
Specialized synonyms: Give
Derivative terms: Leader

11. Noun. The introductory section of a story. "It was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter"
Exact synonyms: Lead-in, Lede
Group relationships: News Article, News Story, Newspaper Article
Generic synonyms: Section, Subdivision

12. Verb. Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point. "The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets"
Exact synonyms: Extend, Go, Pass, Run
Generic synonyms: Be
Specialized synonyms: Come, Radiate, Ray, Go Deep, Go Far
Related verbs: Range, Run
Also: Extend To, Run Along
Derivative terms: Extent

13. Noun. (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning.
Category relationships: Athletics, Sport
Generic synonyms: Score
Antonyms: Deficit

14. Verb. Be in charge of. "They lead him to write the letter"; "Who is heading this project?"
Exact synonyms: Head
Generic synonyms: Direct
Specialized synonyms: Chair, Chairman, Captain, Spearhead, Take Charge, Take Control, Take Hold
Derivative terms: Head, Leader

15. Noun. An actor who plays a principal role.
Exact synonyms: Principal, Star
Generic synonyms: Actor, Histrion, Player, Role Player, Thespian
Specialized synonyms: Co-star, Film Star, Movie Star, Idol, Matinee Idol, Television Star, Tv Star
Derivative terms: Star, Star

16. Verb. Be ahead of others; be the first. "She topped her class every year"
Exact synonyms: Top
Entails: Compete, Contend, Vie
Derivative terms: Top, Topper

17. Noun. (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base. "He took a long lead off first"
Category relationships: Baseball, Baseball Game
Generic synonyms: Place, Position

18. Verb. Be conducive to. "The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing"
Exact synonyms: Conduce, Contribute
Generic synonyms: Advance, Boost, Encourage, Further, Promote
Derivative terms: Conducive, Contributive, Contributory

19. Noun. An indication of potential opportunity. "A good lead for a job"
Exact synonyms: Confidential Information, Hint, Steer, Tip, Wind
Generic synonyms: Counsel, Counseling, Counselling, Direction, Guidance
Derivative terms: Hint, Steer, Tip, Tipster

20. Verb. Lead, as in the performance of a composition. "Conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years"
Exact synonyms: Conduct, Direct
Category relationships: Music
Generic synonyms: Do, Execute, Perform
Related verbs: Conduct
Derivative terms: Conducting, Director

21. Noun. A news story of major importance.
Exact synonyms: Lead Story
Generic synonyms: News Article, News Story, Newspaper Article

22. Verb. Lead, extend, or afford access. "The road runs South"
Exact synonyms: Go
Generic synonyms: Be

23. Noun. The timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine.
Exact synonyms: Spark Advance
Generic synonyms: Timing

24. Verb. Move ahead (of others) in time or space.
Exact synonyms: Precede
Generic synonyms: Go, Locomote, Move, Travel
Specialized synonyms: Head
Antonyms: Follow
Derivative terms: Precedency

25. Noun. Restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal.
Exact synonyms: Leash, Tether
Generic synonyms: Constraint, Restraint
Derivative terms: Leash, Tether

26. Verb. Cause something to pass or lead somewhere. "Run the wire behind the cabinet"
Exact synonyms: Run
Related verbs: Draw, Guide, Pass, Run, Range, Run
Generic synonyms: Make Pass, Pass

27. Noun. Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing.
Exact synonyms: Leading
Generic synonyms: Slip, Strip

28. Verb. Preside over. "Sam and Sue lead"; "John moderated the discussion"
Exact synonyms: Chair, Moderate
Generic synonyms: Discuss, Hash Out, Talk Over
Derivative terms: Chair, Moderator

29. Noun. Mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil.
Exact synonyms: Pencil Lead
Group relationships: Lead Pencil
Generic synonyms: Black Lead, Graphite, Plumbago

30. Noun. A jumper that consists of a short piece of wire. "It was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads"
Exact synonyms: Booster Cable, Jumper Cable, Jumper Lead
Specialized synonyms: Clip Lead
Generic synonyms: Jumper, Conducting Wire, Wire

31. Noun. The playing of a card to start a trick in bridge. "The lead was in the dummy"
Generic synonyms: Play, Turn
Group relationships: Card Game, Cards

Definition of Lead

1. n. 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.

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

3. v. t. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.

4. v. i. To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preëminence; to be first or chief; -- used in most of the senses of lead, v. t.

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

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

Definition of Lead

1. to cover with lead (a heavy metallic element) [v -ED, -ING, -S] / to show the way to by going in advance [v LED, LEADING, LEADS]

Medical Definition of Lead

1. 1. 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. "If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch." (Wyclif (Matt. Xv. 14)) "They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill." (Luke iv. 29) "In thy right hand lead with thee The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty." (Milton) 2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, especially. 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. "The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way." (Ex. Xiii. 21) "He leadeth me beside the still waters." (Ps. Xxiii. 2) "This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask. Content, though blind, had I no better guide." (Milton) 3. 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. "Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or possess places." (South) 4. 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. "As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way." (Fairfax) "And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." (Leigh Hunt) 5. 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. "He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions." (Eikon Basilike) "Silly women, laden with sins,led away by divers lusts." (2 Tim. Iii. 6 (Rev. Ver)) 6. 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). "That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life." (1 Tim. Ii. 2) "Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse A life that leads melodious days." (Tennyson) "You remember . . . The life he used to lead his wife and daughter." (Dickens) 7. To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led. To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to seduce from truth or rectitude. To lead captive, to carry or bring into captivity. To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to act as guide. Origin: OE. Leden, AS. Ldan (akin to OS. Ldian, D. Leiden, G. Leiten,Icel. Lea, Sw. Leda, Dan.lede), properly a causative fr. AS. Lian to go; akin to OHG. La, Icel. La,Goth. Leipan (in comp). Cf. Lode, Loath. 1. One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish colour, 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.4. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide. 2. An article made of lead or an alloy of lead; as: 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. "I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top." (Bacon) 3. A small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils. Black lead, graphite or plumbago,; so called from its leadlike appearance and streak. Coasting lead, a sounding lead intermediate in weight between a hand lead and deep-sea lead. Deep-sea lead, the heaviest of sounding leads, used in water exceeding a hundred fathoms in depth. Hand lead, a small lead use for sounding in shallow water. Krems lead, Kremnitz lead [so called from Krems or Kremnitz, in Austria], a pure variety of white lead, formed into tablets, and called also Krems, or Kremnitz, white, and Vienna white. Lead arming, tallow put in the hollow of a sounding lead. See To arm the lead (below). Lead colic. See Colic. Lead colour, a deep bluish gray colour, like tarnished lead. Lead glance. A massive sulphur-yellow oxide of lead. Same as Massicot. Lead pencil, a pencil of which the marking material is graphite (black lead). Lead plant, crocoite. Sugar of lead, acetate of lead. To arm the lead, to fill the hollow in the bottom of a sounding lead with tallow in order to discover the nature of the bottom by the substances adhering. To cast, or heave, the lead, to cast the sounding lead for ascertaining the depth of water. White lead, hydrated carbonate of lead, obtained as a white, amorphous powder, and much used as an ingredient of white paint. Origin: OE. Led, leed, lead, AS. Lead; akin to D. Lood, MHG. Lot, G. Loth plummet, sounding lead, small weight, Sw. & Dan. Lod. 1. The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another. "At the time I speak of, and having a momentary lead, . . . I am sure I did my country important service." (Burke) 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. An open way in an ice field. 5. A lode. 6. The course of a rope from end to end. 7. 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. When used alone it means outside lead, or lead for the admission of steam. Inside lead refers to the release or exhaust. 8. The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment. 9. The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet. Lead angle, the main longitudinal screw of a lathe, which gives the feed motion to the carriage. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lead Pictures

Click any thumbnail below to go to the full-sized version of that picture or photo:

Loading...

Lexicographical Neighbors of Lead

leached
leacher
leachers
leaches
leachier
leachiest
leaching
leaching
leachings
leachour
leachours
leachy
leach tube
Leacock
lead (current term)
lead (current term)
lead-acid accumulator
lead-acid battery
lead-free
lead-in
lead-pipe rigidity
Leadbelly
leaded
leaded bronze
leaded gasoline
leaden
leadened
leadening
leadenly
leadenness

Other Resources Relating to: Lead

Search for Lead on Dictionary.com!Search for Lead on Thesaurus.com!Search for Lead on Google!Search for Lead on Wikipedia!

Search