A leading line, called a "range" in the United States, is a line formed by a pair of marks, which are generally man-made, that are used in position fixing and navigation, to indicate a safe passage through a shallow or dangerous channel. If lighted the marks are called "leading lights" in British English and "range lights" in the United States.
Leading lights are often used in the entrances to harbours or estuaries where there are hazards close to a deep channel.
Also, in art, Leading Lines are lines that guide your eye through the painting or photograph.
Famous quotes containing the words leading and/or line:
“Do you know I believe that [William Jennings] Bryan will force his nomination on the Democrats again. I believe he will either do this by advocating Prohibition, or else he will run on a Prohibition platform independent of the Democrats. But you will see that the year before the election he will organize a mammoth lecture tour and will make Prohibition the leading note of every address.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“Michelangelo said to Pope Julius II, “Self negation is noble, self-culture is beneficent, self-possession is manly, but to the truly great and inspiring soul they are poor and tame compared to self-abuse.” Mr. Brown, here, in one of his latest and most graceful poems refers to it in an eloquent line which is destined to live to the end of time—”None know it but to love it, None name it but to praise.””
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)