These are word's definitions related to lead. Click on any word to go to its word's detail page. Or, go to the definition of lead.
0 to control a group of people, a country, or a situation:
I think we've chosen the right person to lead the expedition.
I've asked Gemma to lead the discussion.
1 (especially in sports or other competitions) to be in front, to be first, or to be winning:
After 30 minutes the challengers were leading by two goals.
The Lions are leading the Hawks 28–9.
2 to cause someone to do something, especially something bad:
3 to show the way to a group of people, animals, vehicles, etc. by going in front of them:
A large black hearse led the funeral procession.
She led them down the hall.
You've been there before - why don't you lead the way?
The company has been leading the way in network applications for several years.
4 (especially of roads, paths, doors, signs, information, etc.) to go in a particular direction or have a particular result, or to allow or cause this:
5 to live a particular type of life:
6 a winning position during a race or other situation where people are competing:
7 the act of showing a person or group of people what to do:
8 a piece of information that allows a discovery to be made or a solution to be found:
9 the main part or actor in a film or play
10 a wire covered in plastic and used to connect electrical equipment to the electricity supply
11 a piece of rope, chain, etc. tied to an animal, especially to a dog at its collar when taking it for a walk:
12 used to describe the main performer or part in a performance:
13 a chemical element that is a very heavy, soft, dark grey, poisonous metal, used especially in the past on roofs and for pipes and also for protection against radiation:
lead pipes
14 to manage or control a group of people; to be the person who makes decisions that other people choose to follow or obey:
15 to show the way to someone or something, esp. by going first:
17 (esp. in sports or other competitions) to be in front, be first, or be winning:
18 to live a particular type of life:
19 a leash
20 A lead is also the amount or distance by which someone is in front:
21 a piece of information that allows a discovery to be made or a solution to be found:
The lead the detectives were following led to several arrests.
22 a dense, soft, dark gray metal, used esp. in combination with other metals and in batteries (= devices that produce electricity):
23 the black writing material made of graphite, used esp. in the center of a pencil
24 to be in charge of a group of people, an organization, or a situation:
25 to be in front, be first, or be winning in a particular situation or area of business:
26 to happen before something else happens:
The company has improved operating performance, led by cost reduction efforts and productivity gains.
27 to influence someone to do sth:
lead sb/sth to do sth Sharply lower profit has led the company to begin an aggressive cost-cutting plan.
28 to be actively involved in what you are encouraging others to do:
29 to be better or more successful than other people or things:
30 to make more progress than other people in the development of something:
31 a winning position in a situation in which people are competing:
give sb/sth a lead The brand will give the company a commanding lead in the important new sector.
have/increase/maintain a lead (over sb/sth) The group's market share rose to 42.9%, increasing its lead over their arch-rival, which has 37.6%.
Goldman maintained its lead as top manager of negotiated sales.
32 an action or example that shows a person or group what to do:
Most competitors will in any case be only too happy to follow the company's lead in raising prices.
take a lead from sb/sth We could take a lead from Finland, where a government programme has dramatically raised the intake of fruit and vegetables.
take a lead on sth The supermarket group took a lead on GM food labelling.
33 a piece of information that allows a discovery to be made, customers to be found, or a solution to be found: