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Leading - 11 dictionary results
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lead⋅ing

1  [lee-ding]
Use Leading in a Sentence
–adjective
1. chief; principal; most important; foremost: a leading toy manufacturer.
2. coming in advance of others; first: We rode in the leading car.
3. directing, guiding.
–noun
4. the act of a person or thing that leads.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME (n.); see lead 1 , -ing 2 , -ing 1

Related forms:
lead⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
3. ruling, governing.
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lead⋅ing

2  [led-ing]
–noun
1. a covering or framing of lead: the leading of a stained-glass window.
2. Printing. lead 2 (def. 7).
Origin:
1400–50; late ME; see lead 2 , -ing 1

lead

1  [leed] verb, led, lead⋅ing, noun, adjective
–verb (used with object)
1. to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group on a cross-country hike.
2. to conduct by holding and guiding: to lead a horse by a rope.
3. to influence or induce; cause: Subsequent events led him to reconsider his position.
4. to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring: You can lead her around to your point of view if you are persistent.
5. to conduct or bring (water, wire, etc.) in a particular course.
6. (of a road, passage, etc.) to serve to bring (a person) to a place: The first street on the left will lead you to Andrews Place.
7. to take or bring: The prisoners were led into the warden's office.
8. to command or direct (an army or other large organization): He led the Allied forces during the war.
9. to go at the head of or in advance of (a procession, list, body, etc.); proceed first in: The mayor will lead the parade.
10. to be superior to; have the advantage over: The first baseman leads his teammates in runs batted in.
11. to have top position or first place in: Iowa leads the nation in corn production.
12. to have the directing or principal part in: The minister will now lead us in prayer. He led a peace movement.
13. to act as leader of (an orchestra, band, etc.); conduct.
14. to go through or pass (time, life, etc.): to lead a full life.
15. Cards. to begin a round, game, etc., with (a card or suit specified).
16. to aim and fire a firearm or cannon ahead of (a moving target) in order to allow for the travel of the target while the bullet or shell is reaching it.
17. Football. to throw a lead pass to (an intended receiver): The quarterback led the left end.
–verb (used without object)
18. to act as a guide; show the way: You lead and we'll follow.
19. to afford passage to a place: That path leads directly to the house.
20. to go first; be in advance: The band will lead and the troops will follow.
21. to result in; tend toward (usually fol. by to): The incident led to his resignation. One remark often leads to another.
22. to take the directing or principal part.
23. to take the offensive: The contender led with a right to the body.
24. Cards. to make the first play.
25. to be led or submit to being led, as a horse: A properly trained horse will lead easily.
26. Baseball. (of a base runner) to leave a base before the delivery of a pitch in order to reach the next base more quickly (often fol. by away).
27. lead back, to play (a card) from a suit that one's partner led.
–noun
28. the first or foremost place; position in advance of others: He took the lead in the race.
29. the extent of such an advance position: He had a lead of four lengths.
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: I got a lead on a new job. The phone list provided some great sales leads.
33. a guide or indication of a road, course, method, etc., to follow.
34. precedence; example; leadership: They followed the lead of the capital in their fashions.
35. Theater.
a. the principal part in a play.
b. the person who plays it.
36. Cards.
a. the act or right of playing first, as in a round.
b. the card, suit, etc., so played.
37. Journalism.
a. a short summary serving as an introduction to a news story, article, or other copy.
b. the main and often most important news story.
38. Electricity. an often flexible and insulated single conductor, as a wire, used in connections between pieces of electric apparatus.
39. the act of taking the offensive.
40. Nautical.
a. the direction of a rope, wire, or chain.
b. Also called leader. any of various devices for guiding a running rope.
41. Naval Architecture. the distance between the center of lateral resistance and the center of effort of a sailing ship, usually expressed decimally as a fraction of the water-line length.
42. an open channel through a field of ice.
43. Mining.
a. a lode.
b. an auriferous deposit in an old riverbed.
44. the act of aiming a gun ahead of a moving target.
45. the distance ahead of a moving target that a gun must be aimed in order to score a direct hit.
46. Baseball. an act or instance of leading.
47. Manège. (of a horse at a canter or gallop) the foreleg that consistently extends beyond and strikes the ground ahead of the other foreleg: The horse is cantering on the left lead.
–adjective
48. most important; principal; leading; first: lead editorial; lead elephant.
49. Football. (of a forward pass) thrown ahead of the intended receiver so as to allow him to catch it while running.
50. Baseball. (of a base runner) nearest to scoring: They forced the lead runner at third base on an attempted sacrifice.
—Verb phrases
51. lead off,
a. to take the initiative; begin.
b. Baseball. to be the first player in the batting order or the first batter in an inning.
52. lead on,
a. to induce to follow an unwise course of action; mislead.
b. to cause or encourage to believe something that is not true.
53. lead out,
a. to make a beginning.
b. to escort a partner to begin a dance: He led her out and they began a rumba.
—Idioms
54. lead someone a chase or dance, to cause someone difficulty by forcing to do irksome or unnecessary things.
55. lead the way. way (def. 35).
56. lead up to,
a. to prepare the way for.
b. to approach (a subject, disclosure, etc.) gradually or evasively: I could tell by her allusions that she was leading up to something.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME leden, OE lǣdan (causative of līthan to go, travel); c. D leiden, G leiten, ON leitha

Synonyms:
1. accompany, precede. See guide. 3. persuade, convince. 10. excel, outstrip, surpass. 28. head, vanguard.

Antonyms:
1. follow.

lead

2  [led]
–noun
1. Chemistry. a heavy, comparatively soft, malleable, bluish-gray metal, sometimes found in its natural state but usually combined as a sulfide, esp. in galena. Symbol: Pb; atomic weight: 207.19; atomic number: 82; specific gravity: 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 collectively; shot.
5. black lead or graphite.
6. a small stick of graphite, as used in pencils.
7. Also, leading. Printing. 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 or came in which sections of glass are set, as in stained-glass windows.
9. leads, British. a roof, esp. one that is shallow or flat, covered with lead.
10. white lead.
–verb (used with object)
11. to cover, line, weight, treat, or impregnate with lead or one of its compounds.
12. Printing. to insert leads between the lines of.
13. to fix (window glass) in position with leads.
–adjective
14. made of or containing lead: a lead pipe; a lead compound.
—Idioms
15. get the lead out, Slang. to move or work faster; hurry up.
16. heave the lead, Nautical. to take a sounding with a lead.
17. go over like a lead balloon, Slang. to fail to arouse interest, enthusiasm, or support.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME lede, OE lēad; c. D lood, OFris lād lead, G Lot plummet

Related forms:
leadless, adjective

Synonyms:
3. weight, plumb.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Leading
lead 1   (lēd)   
v.   led (lěd), 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.
    1. To serve as a route for; take: The path led them to a cemetery.
    2. To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example).
    3. To direct the performance or activities of: lead an orchestra.
    4. To inspire the conduct of: led the nation in its crisis.
    5. To go or be at the head of: The queen led the procession. My name led the list.
    6. To be ahead of: led the runner-up by three strides.
    7. To be foremost in or among: led the field in nuclear research; led her teammates in free throws.
    8. To aim in front of (a moving target).
    9. 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.
  4. To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce: led us to believe otherwise.
    1. To direct the performance or activities of: lead an orchestra.
    2. To inspire the conduct of: led the nation in its crisis.
    3. To go or be at the head of: The queen led the procession. My name led the list.
    4. To be ahead of: led the runner-up by three strides.
    5. To be foremost in or among: led the field in nuclear research; led her teammates in free throws.
    6. To aim in front of (a moving target).
    7. 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.
  6. To play a principal or guiding role in: lead a discussion; led the antiwar movement.
    1. To go or be at the head of: The queen led the procession. My name led the list.
    2. To be ahead of: led the runner-up by three strides.
    3. To be foremost in or among: led the field in nuclear research; led her teammates in free throws.
    4. To aim in front of (a moving target).
    5. 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.
  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.
    1. To aim in front of (a moving target).
    2. 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.
    1. To guide a dance partner.
    2. 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. The first or foremost position.
    2. One occupying such a position; a leader.
    3. The initiative: took the lead in setting the pace of the project.
    4. Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue: followed a promising lead in the murder case.
    5. An indication of potential opportunity; a tip: a good lead for a job.
    6. The principal role in a dramatic production.
    7. The person playing such a role.
    8. The introductory portion of a news story.
    9. An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
    10. The first play.
    11. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left.
    12. A card played first in a round.
    13. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    14. See lode.
  2. The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority: held a lead of nine points at the half.
    1. Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue: followed a promising lead in the murder case.
    2. An indication of potential opportunity; a tip: a good lead for a job.
    3. The principal role in a dramatic production.
    4. The person playing such a role.
    5. The introductory portion of a news story.
    6. An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
    7. The first play.
    8. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left.
    9. A card played first in a round.
    10. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    11. See lode.
  4. Command; leadership: took over the lead of the company.
  5. An example; a precedent: followed his sister's lead in running for office.
    1. The principal role in a dramatic production.
    2. The person playing such a role.
    3. The introductory portion of a news story.
    4. An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
    5. The first play.
    6. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left.
    7. A card played first in a round.
    8. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    9. See lode.
    1. The introductory portion of a news story.
    2. An important, usually prominently displayed news story.
    3. The first play.
    4. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left.
    5. A card played first in a round.
    6. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    7. See lode.
  8. Games
    1. The first play.
    2. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left.
    3. A card played first in a round.
    4. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    5. See lode.
  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
    1. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.
    2. 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.
  3. To begin; start.
  4. Baseball To be the first batter in an inning.
  5. To keep in a state of expectation or hope; entice.
  6. To mislead; deceive.
Phrasal Verb(s):
lead off
  1. To begin; start.
  2. Baseball To be the first batter in an inning.
lead on
  1. To keep in a state of expectation or hope; entice.
  2. To mislead; deceive.

Idiom(s):
lead the way
  1. 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.

Idiom(s):
lead up to
  1. 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 lǣdan; see leit- in Indo-European roots.]
lead 2   (lěd)   
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, and antiknock compounds. 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 Table at element.
  2. A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.
  3. Bullets from or for firearms; shot: pumped the target full of lead.
  4. leads Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.
  5. Abbr. ld. Printing A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.
  6. leads Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.
    1. Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.
    2. A thin stick of such material.
v.   tr. 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.

[Middle English led, from Old English lēad, probably of Celtic origin.]
lead adj.
lead·ing 1   (lē'dĭng)   
adj.  
  1. Having a position in the lead; foremost: the leading candidate.
  2. Chief; principal: the leading cause of high inflation. See Synonyms at chief.
  3. Of or performing a lead in a theatrical production: a leading role; a leading lady.
  4. Formulated so as to elicit a desired response: a leading question.
lead'ing·ly adv.
lead·ing 2   (lěd'ĭng)   
n.  
  1. A border or rim of lead, as around a windowpane.
  2. Printing The spacing between lines, usually measured in points.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Leading

Lead"ing\, a. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly, adv.

Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved. --Abbott.

Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding theme; in the modern music drama of Wagner, a marked melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label.

Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the ascending major scale; the sensible note.

Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply.

Leading strings, strings by which children are supported when beginning to walk.

To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others.

Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels of a locomotive engine.

Leading

Lead"ing\, n. 1. The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance. --Shak.

2. Suggestion; hint; example. [Archaic] --Bacon.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

leading text
/ledding/ The spacing between lines of text. This is defined when a font is designed but can often be altered in order to change the appearance of the text or for special effects. It is measured in points and is normally 120% of the height of the text.
See also kerning, tracking.
(1996-06-07)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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