Library / English Dictionary

    LEAD

    Irregular inflected form: led  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

     I. (noun) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    The playing of a card to start a trick in bridgeplay

    Example:

    the lead was in the dummy

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    play; turn ((game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession)

    Holonyms ("lead" is a part of...):

    card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    A position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase 'take the lead')play

    Example:

    they didn't follow our lead

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    leadership; leading (the activity of leading)

    Derivation:

    lead (preside over)

    lead (lead, as in the performance of a composition)

    lead (be in charge of)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    A jumper that consists of a short piece of wireplay

    Example:

    it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads

    Synonyms:

    booster cable; jumper cable; jumper lead; lead

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    jumper (a small connector used to make temporary electrical connections)

    conducting wire; wire (a metal conductor that carries electricity over a distance)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lead"):

    clip lead (a short piece of wire with alligator clips on both ends)

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    Mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencilplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; pencil lead

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    black lead; graphite; plumbago (used as a lubricant and as a moderator in nuclear reactors)

    Holonyms ("lead" is a part of...):

    lead pencil (pencil that has graphite as the marking substance)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printingplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; leading

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    slip; strip (artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    Restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animalplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; leash; tether

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    constraint; restraint (a device that retards something's motion)

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    The timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engineplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; spark advance

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    timing (the time when something happens)

    Sense 8

    Meaning:

    An advantage held by a competitor in a raceplay

    Example:

    he took the lead at the last turn

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    advantage; vantage (the quality of having a superior or more favorable position)

    Sense 9

    Meaning:

    Evidence pointing to a possible solutionplay

    Example:

    the trail led straight to the perpetrator

    Synonyms:

    lead; track; trail

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    evidence; grounds (your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief)

    Sense 10

    Meaning:

    The introductory section of a storyplay

    Example:

    it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter

    Synonyms:

    lead; lead-in; lede

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))

    Holonyms ("lead" is a part of...):

    news article; news story; newspaper article (an article reporting news)

    Sense 11

    Meaning:

    A news story of major importanceplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; lead story

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    news article; news story; newspaper article (an article reporting news)

    Sense 12

    Meaning:

    An indication of potential opportunityplay

    Example:

    a good lead for a job

    Synonyms:

    confidential information; hint; lead; steer; tip; wind

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    counsel; counseling; counselling; direction; guidance (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

    Sense 13

    Meaning:

    (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next baseplay

    Example:

    he took a long lead off first

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting spatial position

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    place; position (the particular portion of space occupied by something)

    Domain category:

    ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

    Sense 14

    Meaning:

    An actor who plays a principal roleplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; principal; star

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting people

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    actor; histrion; player; role player; thespian (a theatrical performer)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lead"):

    co-star (one of two actors who are given equal status as stars in a play or film)

    film star; movie star (a star who plays leading roles in the cinema)

    idol; matinee idol (someone who is adored blindly and excessively)

    television star; TV star (a star in a television show)

    Sense 15

    Meaning:

    (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winningplay

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    score (a number that expresses the accomplishment of a team or an individual in a game or contest)

    Domain category:

    athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

    Antonym:

    deficit ((sports) the score by which a team or individual is losing)

    Sense 16

    Meaning:

    The angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)play

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    angle (the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians)

    Sense 17

    Meaning:

    A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull greyplay

    Example:

    the children were playing with lead soldiers

    Synonyms:

    atomic number 82; lead; Pb

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting substances

    Hypernyms ("lead" is a kind of...):

    metal; metallic element (any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lead"):

    hard lead (unrefined lead that is hard because of the impurities it contains)

    antimonial lead; hard lead (a lead alloy that contains about 5% antimony)

    pig lead (lead that is cast in pigs)

    Holonyms ("lead" is a substance of...):

    cerussite; white lead ore (a mineral consisting of lead carbonate that is an important source of lead)

    galena (soft blue-grey mineral; lead sulfide; a major source of lead)

     II. (verb) 

    Verb forms

    Present simple: I / you / we / they lead ... he / she / it leads  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past simple: led  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past participle: led  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    -ing form: leading  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Cause to undertake a certain actionplay

    Example:

    Her greed led her to forge the checks

    Classified under:

    Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    cause; get; have; induce; make; stimulate (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    give (guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

    Sentence example:

    They lead him to write the letter


    Derivation:

    leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Preside overplay

    Example:

    John moderated the discussion

    Synonyms:

    chair; lead; moderate

    Classified under:

    Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    discuss; hash out; talk over (speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    lead (a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase 'take the lead'))

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    Lead, as in the performance of a compositionplay

    Example:

    conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years

    Synonyms:

    conduct; direct; lead

    Classified under:

    Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    do; execute; perform (carry out or perform an action)

    Verb group:

    conduct (lead musicians in the performance of)

    Domain category:

    music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    lead (a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase 'take the lead'))

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    Move ahead (of others) in time or spaceplay

    Synonyms:

    lead; precede

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    head; lead (travel in front of; go in advance of others)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    Travel in front of; go in advance of othersplay

    Example:

    The procession was headed by John

    Synonyms:

    head; lead

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    lead; precede (move ahead (of others) in time or space)

    Verb group:

    head; head up (be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    draw away (move ahead of (one's competitors) in a race)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody

    Derivation:

    leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    Take somebody somewhereplay

    Example:

    He conducted us to the palace

    Synonyms:

    conduct; direct; guide; lead; take

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    beacon (guide with a beacon)

    hand (guide or conduct or usher somewhere)

    lead astray; misdirect; misguide; mislead (lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions)

    show; usher (take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something

    Sentence example:

    The men lead the horses across the field


    Derivation:

    leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    Be in charge ofplay

    Example:

    Who is heading this project?

    Synonyms:

    head; lead

    Classified under:

    Verbs of political and social activities and events

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    direct (be in charge of)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    chair; chairman (act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university)

    captain (be the captain of a sports team)

    spearhead (be the leader of)

    take charge; take control; take hold (assume control)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Sentence example:

    They lead him to write the letter


    Derivation:

    lead (a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase 'take the lead'))

    leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

    Sense 8

    Meaning:

    Be conducive toplay

    Example:

    The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing

    Synonyms:

    conduce; contribute; lead

    Classified under:

    Verbs of political and social activities and events

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    advance; boost; encourage; further; promote (contribute to the progress or growth of)

    Sentence frame:

    Something is ----ing PP

    Sense 9

    Meaning:

    Produce as a result or residueplay

    Example:

    Her blood left a stain on the napkin

    Synonyms:

    lead; leave; result

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    bring about; give rise; produce (cause to happen, occur or exist)

    Verb group:

    leave (act or be so as to become in a specified state)

    leave (have left or have as a remainder)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    lead (tend to or result in)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s something

    Sense 10

    Meaning:

    Tend to or result inplay

    Example:

    This remark lead to further arguments among the guests

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    lead; leave; result (produce as a result or residue)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    entail; implicate (impose, involve, or imply as a necessary accompaniment or result)

    necessitate (cause to be a concomitant)

    Sentence frame:

    Something is ----ing PP

    Sense 11

    Meaning:

    Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain pointplay

    Example:

    The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets

    Synonyms:

    extend; go; lead; pass; run

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    be (occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere)

    Verb group:

    range; run (change or be different within limits)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lead"):

    come (extend or reach)

    radiate; ray (extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center)

    go deep; go far (extend in importance or range)

    underrun (run or pass below)

    Sentence frame:

    Something is ----ing PP

    Sense 12

    Meaning:

    Lead, extend, or afford accessplay

    Example:

    The road runs South

    Synonyms:

    go; lead

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    be (occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere)

    Sentence frame:

    Something is ----ing PP

    Sense 13

    Meaning:

    Cause something to pass or lead somewhereplay

    Example:

    Run the wire behind the cabinet

    Synonyms:

    lead; run

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "lead" is one way to...):

    make pass; pass (cause to pass)

    Verb group:

    draw; guide; pass; run (pass over, across, or through)

    range; run (change or be different within limits)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something PP

    Sense 14

    Meaning:

    Be ahead of others; be the firstplay

    Example:

    she topped her class every year

    Synonyms:

    lead; top

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    "Lead" entails doing...:

    compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something
    Somebody ----s PP

    Credits

     Context examples: 

    As he said this he led the way across the ice; I followed.

    (Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

    Well, I tried one or two leads, but could get at nothing which would help our hypothesis, and several points which would make against it.

    (The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    This indicates your actions and ideas could lead you to quite a bundle of cash.

    (AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

    There were two other doors in the chamber, leading probably into dressing-closets; but she had no inclination to open either.

    (Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

    Aberrant crypt foci form before colorectal polyps and are one of the earliest changes that can be seen in the colon that may lead to cancer.

    (Aberrant crypt foci, NCI Dictionary)

    In the same way his other articles were tied up with the other leading San Francisco papers.

    (Martin Eden, by Jack London)

    It may lead to coma and death.

    (Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, NCI Thesaurus)

    We continued to talk for some time; and, seeing that he was seemingly quite reasonable, she ventured, looking at me questioningly as she began, to lead him to his favourite topic.

    (Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

    I was feeling for it in the window-curtains, when Steerforth, laughing, took me by the arm and led me out.

    (David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

    Buck saw money pass between them, and was not surprised when Curly, a good-natured Newfoundland, and he were led away by the little weazened man.

    (The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)


    © 1991-2023 The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin | Titi Tudorancea® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
    Contact