What is lead?

More definitions of "lead":

• (noun): A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull gray.
  Example: "The children were playing with lead soldiers"
  Synonyms: Pb, atomic number 82

• (verb): Lead, extend, or afford access.
  Synonyms: go

• (verb): Move ahead (of others) in time or space.
  Synonyms: precede

• (noun): Mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil.
  Synonyms: pencil lead

• (noun): Evidence pointing to a possible solution.
  Example: "The police are following a promising lead"
  Synonyms: track, trail

• (verb): Result in.
  Synonyms: leave, result

• (noun): A news story of major importance.
  Synonyms: lead story

• (verb): Be conducive to.
  Example: "The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing"
  Synonyms: contribute, conduce

• (verb): Be ahead of others; be the first.
  Synonyms: top

• (verb): Be in charge of.
  Synonyms: head

• (verb): Pass or spend.
  Example: "Lead a good life"

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

• (verb): Tend to or result in.
  Example: "This remark lead to further arguments among the guests"

• (verb): Take somebody somewhere.
  Example: "We lead him to our chief"
  Synonyms: take, direct, conduct, guide

• (verb): Preside over.
  Synonyms: moderate, chair

• (noun): A jumper that consists of a short piece of wire.
  Synonyms: jumper cable, jumper lead

• (noun): Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing.
  Synonyms: leading

• (verb): Cause to undertake a certain action.
  Example: "Her greed led her to forge the checks"

• (verb): Lead, as in the performance of a composition.
  Synonyms: conduct, direct

• (noun): Restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal.
  Synonyms: leash, tether

• (noun): The introductory section of a story.
  Example: "It was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter"
  Synonyms: lead-in

• (noun): An advantage held by a competitor in a race.
  Example: "He took the lead at the last turn"

• (noun): The timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine.
  Synonyms: spark advance

• (verb): Travel in front of; go in advance of others.
  Synonyms: head

• (verb): Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point.
  Synonyms: run, go, pass, extend

• (verb): Cause something to pass or lead somewhere.
  Synonyms: run

• (noun): An actor who plays a principal role.
  Synonyms: star, principal

• (noun): A position of leadership (especially in the phrase 'take the lead').
  Example: "He takes the lead in any group"; "we were just waiting for someone to take the lead"; "they didn't follow our lead"

• (noun): An indication of potential opportunity.
  Example: "A good lead for a job"
  Synonyms: tip, steer, confidential information, wind, hint

• (noun): (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base.
  Example: "He took a long lead off first"

Famous quotes containing the word lead:

“A quibble is to Shakespeare what luminous vapours are to the traveller: he follows it at all adventures; it is sure to lead him out of his way and sure to engulf him in the mire.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

“Although adults have a role to play in teaching social skills to children, it is often best that they play it unobtrusively. In particular, adults must guard against embarrassing unskilled children by correcting them too publicly and against labeling children as shy in ways that may lead the children to see themselves in just that way.”
—Zick Rubin (20th century)

“Being prime minister is a lonely job.... you cannot lead from the crowd.”
—Margaret Thatcher (b. 1925)