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   lead

   /liːd/

   verb

   • 1. cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward: "she emerged leading a bay horse" Similar guideconductshowshow someone the waylead the wayusherescortsteerpilotmarshalshepherdaccompanyseetakehelpassistOpposite follow
   • ▪ show (someone or something) the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them: "she stood up and led her friend to the door" Similar be at the head ofbe at the front ofheadspearheadOpposite follow
   • 2. be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction: "the door led to a long hallway" Similar open on togive on toconnect with/toprovide a route tocommunicate with
   • ▪ be a reason or motive for (someone): "nothing that I have read about the case leads me to the conclusion that anything untoward happened"
   • ▪ culminate or result in (a particular event or consequence): "closing the plant will lead to 300 job losses" Similar result incausebring onbring aboutcall forthgive rise tobe the cause ofmake happencreateproduceoccasioneffectengendergeneratecontribute tobe conducive toadd tobe instrumental inhave a hand inhave a part inhelppromoteadvanceprecipitatehastenacceleratequickenpush forwardpromptexpeditefurtherspeed upprovokestir upspark offtrigger (off)set offtouch offarouserouseexcitefomentinstigatecostinvolvenecessitateinviteriskelicitentailrare:effectuateconduce to
   • 3. be in charge or command of: "a military delegation was led by the Chief of Staff" Similar be the leader ofbe the head ofpreside overhold sway overheadcommanddirectgovernrulebe in charge ofbe in command ofbe in control ofhave control ofhave charge ofregulatesupervisesuperintendoverseechairrunmastermindorchestratecontrolconductguidebe at the helm oftake the chair ofadministerorganizemanagedominatemasterreign overdomineerbe in power overinformal:head uprun the showcall the shotsOpposite serve in
   • ▪ organize and direct: "the conference included sessions led by people with personal knowledge of the area"
   • ▪ be the principal player of (a group of musicians): "since the forties he has led his own big bands" Similar be at the head ofbe at the front ofheadspearheadOpposite follow
   • ▪ set (a process) in motion: "they are waiting for an expansion of world trade to lead a recovery"
   • ▪ (of a base runner) be in a position to run from a base while standing off the base.
   • ▪ (in card games) play (the first card) in a trick or round of play: "he led the ace and another heart"
   • 4. have the advantage over competitors in a race or game: "he followed up with a break of 105 to lead 3-0" Similar be aheadbe winningbe in frontbe out in frontbe in the leadbe firstcome firstOpposite be losinglose
   • ▪ be superior to (competitors or colleagues): "there will be specific areas or skills in which other nations lead the world" Similar be at the front ofbe first inbe ahead ofheadoutdistanceoutrunoutstripoutpaceleave behindget (further) ahead ofdraw away fromshake offoutdoexcelexceedsurpassoutclasstranscendtoptrumpcapbeatbetterwiden the gapinformal:leave standingwalk away fromrun rings aroundarchaic:outrivaloutvieOpposite followtrail
   • 5. have or experience (a particular way of life): "she's led a completely sheltered life" Similar experiencehavelivepassspendundergo

   noun

   • 1. the initiative in an action; an example for others to follow: "Britain is now taking the lead in environmental policies" Similar first positionhead placeforefrontprimacydominancesuperiorityprecedenceascendancypre-eminencesupremacyadvantageedgeupper handwhip handhead startOpposite last position
   • ▪ a piece of information that may help in the resolution of a problem: "detectives investigating the murder are chasing new leads" Similar cluepointerguidehinttiptip-offsuggestionindicationindicatorsignsignalintimationinklingevidenceinformation
   • ▪ a person or thing that may be useful, especially a potential customer or business opportunity: "setting up a social networking page can help you get numerous leads"
   • ▪ (in card games) an act or right of playing first in a trick or round of play: "it's your lead"
   • ▪ the card played first in a trick or round: "the ♦8 was an inspired lead"
   • 2. a position of advantage in a contest; first place: "the team burst into life and took the lead" Similar leading positionleading placefirst placeadvance positionvanvanguardaheadin frontwinningleading the fieldto the foreinformal:up frontOpposite lastlosing
   • ▪ an amount by which a competitor is ahead of the others: "the team held a slender one-goal lead" Similar winning marginmargingapinterval
   • 3. the chief part in a play or film: "she had the lead in a new film" Similar leading rolestar/starring rolestar parttitle roleprincipal partstarprincipal charactermale leadfemale leadleading manleading ladyheroheroineprotagonistOpposite bit partextra
   • ▪ the person playing the chief part: "he still looked like a romantic lead"
   • ▪ the chief performer or instrument of a specified type: "a lead guitarist"
   • ▪ the item of news given the greatest prominence in a newspaper, broadcast, etc.: "the ‘pensions revolution’ is the lead in the Times"
   • ▪ the opening sentence or paragraph of a news article, summarizing the most important aspects of the story: US "the newswire will be offering two different leads for certain stories, so editors can pick and choose"
   • 4. a strap or cord for restraining and guiding a dog or other domestic animal: British "the dog is our constant walking companion and is always kept on a lead" Similar leashtetherreincordropechainline
   • 5. a wire that conveys electric current from a source to an appliance, or that connects two points of a circuit together. British
   • 6. the distance advanced by a screw in one turn.
   • 7. an artificial watercourse leading to a mill.
   • ▪ a channel of water in an ice field.

   Word Origin Old Englishlǣdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leiden and German leiten, also to load and lode.

   Derivatives

   • 1. leadable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 5

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • D

     2

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2. People also ask

   What does lead mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! LEAD definition: 1. to control a group of people, a country, or a situation: 2. (especially in sports or other…. Learn more.

   LEAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lead

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   What does a lead mean in a sentence?

   • [VERB noun + to] A lead is a piece of information or an idea which may help people to discover the facts in a situation where many facts are not known, for example in the investigation of a crime or in a scientific experiment. The inquiry team is also following up possible leads after receiving 400 calls from the public.

   LEAD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lead

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   What does it mean if you give a lead?

   • If you give a lead, you do something new or develop new ideas or methods that other people consider to be a good example or model to follow. ...the need for the president to give a moral lead. Over the next 150 years, many others followed his lead. Synonyms: example, direction, leadership, guidance More Synonyms of lead

   LEAD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lead

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   What does it mean to lead a group?

   • Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. To lead means to go in front, or to serve as the leader of a group. If you’re on a group hiking trip and the navigator lost the map, you’ll want someone with a good sense of direction to lead the group back to the car.

   Lead - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

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   Is lead a verb or a noun?

   • Or, we should say, there is confusion about the leads and led. Lead is both a noun and a verb, as most people know. There are several unrelated nouns spelled lead: one most commonly refers to a metal (as in, "The paint was made with lead"), and the other most commonly refers to a position of advantage (as in, "Our team was in the lead").

   Lead Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead

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   What is a synonym for lead?

   • Synonyms: command, rule, govern, preside over More Synonyms of lead If you give a lead, you do something new or develop new ideas or methods that other people consider to be a good example or model to follow. ...the need for the president to give a moral lead. Over the next 150 years, many others followed his lead.

   LEAD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lead

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLEAD | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   LEAD definition: 1. to control a group of people, a country, or a situation: 2. (especially in sports or other…. Learn more.

   • English (US)

     LEAD meaning: 1. to control a group of people, a country, or...

   • Lead-In

     LEAD-IN definition: 1. something that introduces something...

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › leadLead Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lead

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   The meaning of LEAD is to guide on a way especially by going in advance. How to use lead in a sentence. When to Use Lead or Led Synonym Discussion of Lead.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › leadLEAD Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   to have the directing or principal part in: The minister will now lead us in prayer. He led a peace movement. to act as leader of (an orchestra, band, etc.); conduct. to go through or pass (time, life, etc.): to lead a full life. Cards. to begin a round, game, etc., with (a card or suit specified).

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishLEAD definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   A lead is a piece of information or an idea which may help people to discover the facts in a situation where many facts are not known, for example in the investigation of a crime or in a scientific experiment.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › leadLead - definition of lead by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › lead

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   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.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › leadLead - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › lead

   To lead means to go in front, or to serve as the leader of a group. If you’re on a group hiking trip and the navigator lost the map, you’ll want someone with a good sense of direction to lead the group back to the car.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › leadMeaning of lead – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › lead

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   lead noun (WINNING) B2. a winning position during a race or other situation where people are competing: She's in the lead (= winning). France has just taken the lead (= started to win). a three-goal lead.