lead (
http://definr.com/lead)
n 1: a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white
when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull gray;
"the children were playing with lead soldiers" [syn:
Pb,
atomic number 82]
2: an advantage held by a competitor in a race: "he took the
lead at the last turn"
3: evidence pointing to a possible solution; "the police are
following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to
the perpetrator" [syn:
track,
trail]
4: a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the
lead'); "he takes the lead in any group"; "we were just
waiting for someone to take the lead"; "they didn't follow
our lead"
5: the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the
position of a moving target (correcting for the flight
time of the missile)
6: the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing
lead-in to a very serious matter" [syn:
lead-in]
7: an actor who plays a principal role [syn:
star,
principal]
8: (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to
advance to the next base; "he took a long lead off first"
9: an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the
stock market"; "a good lead for a job" [syn:
tip,
steer,
confidential information,
wind,
hint]
10: a news story of major importance [syn:
lead story]
11: the timing of ignition relative to the position of the
piston in an internal-combustion engine [syn: {spark
advance}]
12: restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to
restrain an animal [syn:
leash,
tether]
13: thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in
printing [syn:
leading]
14: mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of
hardness; the marking substance in a pencil [syn: {pencil
lead}]
15: a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire; "it was a
tangle of jumper cables and clip leads" [syn: {jumper
cable},
jumper lead]
16: the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge; "the lead
was in the dummy"
v 1: take somebody somewhere; "We lead him to our chief"; "can
you take me to the main entrance?"; "He conducted us to
the palace" [syn:
take,
direct,
conduct,
guide]
2: result in; "The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her
blood left a stain on the napkin" [syn:
leave,
result]
3: tend to or result in; "This remark lead to further arguments
among the guests"
4: travel in front of; go in advance of others: "The procession
was headed by John" [syn:
head]
5: cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to
forge the checks"
6: stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or
extend between two points or beyond a certain point;
"Service runs all the way to Cranbury"; "His knowledge
doesn't go very far"; "My memory extends back to my fourth
year of life"; "The facts extend beyond a consideration of
her personal assets" [syn:
run,
go,
pass,
extend]
7: be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?" [syn:
head]
8: be ahead of others; be at the top; be the first
9: be conducive to; "The use of computers in the classroom lead
to better writing" [syn:
contribute,
conduce]
10: lead, as in the performance of a musical composition;
"conduct an orchestra; Bairenboim conducted the Chicago
symphony for years" [syn:
conduct,
direct]
11: pass or spend; "lead a good life"
12: lead. extend, or afford access; "This door goes to the
basement"; "The road runs South" [syn:
go]
13: move ahead (of others) in time or space [syn:
precede]
[ant:
follow]
14: cause something to pass or lead somewhere; "Run the wire
behind the cabinet" [syn:
run]
15: preside over; "John moderated the discussion" [syn:
moderate,
chair]