1.  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. [1913 Webster]
"If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch." [1913 Webster]
"They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill." [1913 Webster]
"In thy right hand lead with thee
The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty." [1913 Webster]

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, esp. by going with or going in advance of. [1913 Webster]
"The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way." [1913 Webster]
"He leadeth me beside the still waters." [1913 Webster]
"This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask.
Content, though blind, had I no better guide." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or possess places." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way." [1913 Webster]
"And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions." [1913 Webster]
"Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers lusts." [1913 Webster]

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). [1913 Webster]
"That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life." [1913 Webster]
"Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse
A life that leads melodious days." [1913 Webster]
"You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter." [1913 Webster]

7.  To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led. [1913 Webster]

1.  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. [1913 Webster]

2.  To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices. [1913 Webster]
"The mountain foot that leads towards Mantua." [1913 Webster]

1.  The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another. [1913 Webster]
"At the time I speak of, and having a momentary lead, . . . I am sure I did my country important service." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

4.  An open way in an ice field. Kane. [1913 Webster]

5.  A lode. [1913 Webster]

6.  The course of a rope from end to end. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
" When used alone it means outside lead, or lead for the admission of steam. Inside lead refers to the release or exhaust." [1913 Webster]

8.  the distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment. [1913 Webster]

9.  The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet. Saunier. [1913 Webster]

10.  The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

11.  In an internal-combustion engine, the distance, measured in actual length of piston stroke or the corresponding angular displacement of the crank, of the piston from the end of the compression stroke when ignition takes place; -- called in full lead of the ignition. When ignition takes place during the working stroke the corresponding distance from the commencement of the stroke is called negative lead. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

12.  The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

13.  In spiral screw threads, worm wheels, or the like, the amount of advance of any point in the spiral for a complete turn. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

14.  The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

15.  A role for a leading man or leading woman; also, one who plays such a role. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

16.  The first story in a newspaper or broadcast news program. [PJC]

17.  an electrical conductor, typically as an insulated wire or cable, connecting an electrical device to another device or to a power source, such as a conductor conveying electricity from a dynamo. [PJC]

18.  the distance a runner on base advances from one base toward the next before the pitch; as, the long lead he usually takes tends to distract the pitchers. [PJC]

lead, v. & n.
--v. (past and past part. led)
1 tr. cause to go with one, esp. by guiding or showing the way or by going in front and taking a person's hand or an animal's halter etc.
2 tr. a direct the actions or opinions of. b (often foll. by to, or to + infin.) guide by persuasion or example or argument (what led you to that conclusion?; was led to think you may be right).
3 tr. (also absol.) provide access to; bring to a certain position or destination (this door leads you into a small room; the road leads to Lincoln; the path leads uphill).
4 tr. pass or go through (a life etc. of a specified kind) (led a miserable existence).
5 tr. a have the first place in (lead the dance; leads the world in sugar production). b (absol.) go first; be ahead in a race or game. c (absol.) be pre-eminent in some field.
6 tr. be in charge of (leads a team of researchers).
7 tr. a direct by example. b set (a fashion). c be the principal player of (a group of musicians).
8 tr. (also absol.) begin a round of play at cards by playing (a card) or a card of (a particular suit).
9 intr. (foll. by to) have as an end or outcome; result in (what does all this lead to?).
10 intr. (foll. by with) Boxing make an attack (with a particular blow).
11 a intr. (foll. by with) (of a newspaper) use a particular item as the main story (led with the Stock Market crash). b tr. (of a story) be the main feature of (a newspaper or part of it) (the royal wedding will lead the front page).
12 tr. (foll. by through) make (a liquid, strip of material, etc.) pass through a pulley, channel, etc.
--n.
1 guidance given by going in front; example.
2 a a leading place; the leadership (is in the lead; take the lead). b the amount by which a competitor is ahead of the others (a lead of ten yards).
3 a clue, esp. an early indication of the resolution of a problem (is the first real lead in the case).
4 a strap or cord for leading a dog etc.
5 a conductor (usu. a wire) conveying electric current from a source to an appliance.
6 a the chief part in a play etc. b the person playing this.
7 (in full lead story) the item of news given the greatest prominence in a newspaper or magazine.
8 a the act or right of playing first in a game or round of cards. b the card led.
9 the distance advanced by a screw in one turn.
10 a an artificial watercourse, esp. one leading to a mill. b a channel of water in an ice-field.

Idiom:
lead astray see ASTRAY. lead by the nose cajole (a person) into compliance. lead a person a dance see DANCE. lead-in
1 an introduction, opening, etc.
2 a wire leading in from outside, esp. from an aerial to a receiver or transmitter.
lead off
1 begin; make a start.
2 colloq. lose one's temper. lead-off n. an action beginning a process.
lead on
1 entice into going further than was intended.
2 mislead or deceive. lead time the time between the initiation and completion of a production process. lead up the garden path colloq. mislead. lead the way see WAY.

Derivative:
leadable adj.

lead, n. & v.
--n.
1 Chem. a heavy bluish-grey soft ductile metallic element occurring naturally in galena and used in building and the manufacture of alloys.

Idiom:
lead acetate a white crystalline compound of lead that dissolves in water to form a sweet-tasting solution. lead-free (of petrol) without added tetraethyl lead. lead pencil a pencil of graphite enclosed in wood. lead-poisoning acute or chronic poisoning by absorption of lead into the body. lead shot = SHOT(1) 3b. lead tetraethyl = TETRAETHYL LEAD. lead wool a fibrous form of lead, used for jointing water pipes.

Usage:
Symb.: Pb.
2 a graphite. b a thin length of this for use in a pencil.
3 a lump of lead used in sounding water.
4 (in pl.) Brit. a strips of lead covering a roof. b a piece of lead-covered roof.
5 (in pl.) Brit. lead frames holding the glass of a lattice or stained-glass window.
6 Printing a blank space between lines of print (orig. with ref. to the metal strip used to give this space).
7 (attrib.) made of lead.
--v.tr.
1 cover, weight, or frame (a roof or window panes) with lead.
2 Printing separate lines of (printed matter) with leads.
3 add a lead compound to (petrol etc.).

Derivative:
leadless adj.

Etymology:
OE lead f. WG

N  superiority, majority, greatness, advantage, pull, preponderance, preponderation, vantage ground, prevalence, partiality, personal superiority, nobility, Triton among the minnows, primus inter pares, nulli secundus, captain, crackajack, supremacy, preeminence, lead, maximum, record, trikumia, climax, culmination, transcendence, ne plus ultra, lion's share, Benjamin's mess, excess, surplus, (redundancy), superior, greater, major, higher, exceeding, great, distinguished, ultra, vaulting, more than a match for, supreme, greatest, utmost, paramount, preeminent, foremost, crowning, first-rate, unrivaled peerless, matchless, none such, second to none, sans pareil, unparagoned, unparalleled, unequalled, unapproached, unsurpassed, superlative, inimitable facile princeps, incomparable, sovereign, without parallel, nulli secundus, ne plus ultra, beyond compare, beyond comparison, culminating, transcendent, transcendental, plus royaliste que le Roi, more catholic than the Pope increased, enlarged, beyond, more, over, over the mark, above the mark, above par, upwards of, in advance of, over and above, at the top of the scale, at its height, eminently, egregiously, preeminently, surpassing, prominently, superlatively, supremely, above all, of all things, the most, to crown all, kat exochin, par excellence, principally, especially, particularly, peculiarly, a fortiori, even, yea, still more, I shall not look upon his like again, deos fortioribus addesse.

VB  precede, come before, come first, head, lead, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, be in the vanguard, introduce, usher in, have the pas, set the fashion, open the ball, take precedence, have precedence, have the start, place before, prefix, premise, prelude, preface.

VB  direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.

N  government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

VB  tend, contribute, conduce, lead, dispose, incline, verge, bend to, trend, affect, carry, redound to, bid fair to, gravitate towards, promote.

N  depth, deepness, profundity, depression, hollow, pit, shaft, well, crater, gulf, bowels of the earth, botttomless pit, hell, soundings, depth of water, water, draught, submersion, plummet, sound, probe, sounding rod, sounding line, lead, bathymetry, sonar, side-looking sonar, bathometer, deep, deep seated, profound, sunk, buried, submerged, subaqueous, submarine, subterranean, subterraneous, subterrene, underground, bottomless, soundless, fathomless, unfathomed, unfathomable, abysmal, deep as a well, bathycolpian, benthal, benthopelagic, downreaching, yawning, knee deep, ankle deep, beyond one's depth, out of one's depth, over head and ears, mark twine, mark twain.

N  gravity, gravitation, weight, heaviness, specific gravity, pondorosity, pressure, load, burden, burthen, ballast, counterpoise, lump of, mass of, weight of, lead, millstone, mountain, Ossa on Pelion, weighing, ponderation, trutination, weights, avoirdupois weight, troy weight, apothecaries' weight, grain, scruple, drachma, ounce, pound, lb, arroba, load, stone, hundredweight, cwt, ton, long ton, metric ton, quintal, carat, pennyweight, tod, gram, centigram, milligram, microgram, kilogram, nanogram, picogram, femtogram, attogram, balance, scale, scales, steelyard, beam, weighbridge, spring balance, piezoelectric balance, analytical balance, two-pan balance, one-pan balance, postal scale, baby scale, statics, weighty, weighing, heavy as lead, ponderous, ponderable, lumpish, lumpy, cumbersome, burdensome, cumbrous, unwieldy, massive, incumbent, superincumbent.

antimonial lead, black lead, clip lead, green lead ore, hard lead, in the lead, jumper lead, lead acetate, lead arsenate, lead astray, lead bank, lead by the nose, lead carbonate, lead chromate, lead colic, lead glass, lead item, lead line, lead off, lead on, lead ore, lead pencil, lead plant, lead poisoning, lead sheet, lead story, lead tetraethyl, lead the way, lead time, lead to, lead tree, lead up, pencil lead, pig lead, pot lead, red lead, sounding lead, sugar of lead, tetraethyl lead, white lead, white lead ore