Definitions for the word "lead" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. n.
One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic weight, 206.4. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
An article made of lead or an alloy of lead
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. n.
A plummet or mass of lead, used in sounding at sea.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. n.
A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. n.
Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. n.
A small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. v. t.
To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. v. t.
To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. v. t.
To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. v. t.
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. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. v. t.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. v. t.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. v. t.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. v. t.
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).
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. v. t.
To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. v. i.
To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; -- used in most of the senses of lead, v. t.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. v. t.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. n.
The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. n.
An open way in an ice field.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. n.
A lode.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. n.
The course of a rope from end to end.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
25. n.
the distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
26. n.
The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
27. v.
(past and past part. Led) 1 cause to go with one, esp. By guiding or going in front. 2 a direct the actions or opinions of. B (often foll. By to, or to + infin.) Guide by persuasion or example (what led you to think that). 3 (also absol.) Provide access to; bring to a certain position (gate leads you into a field; road leads to lincoln). 4 pass or go through (a life etc. Of a specified kind). 5 a have the first place in. B (absol.) Go first; be ahead in a race etc. C (absol.) Be pre-eminent in some field. 6 be in charge of (leads a team). 7 (also absol.) Play (a card) or a card of (a particular suit) as first player in a round. 8 (foll. By to) result in. 9 (foll. By with) (of a newspaper or news broadcast) have as its main story (led with the royal wedding). 10 (foll. By through) make (a liquid, strip of material, etc.) Pass through a certain course. n. 1 guidance given by going in front; example. 2 a leading place (take the lead). B amount by which a competitor is ahead of the others. 3 clue. 4 strap etc. For leading a dog etc. 5 conductor (usu. A wire) conveying electric current to an appliance. 6 a chief part in a play etc. B person playing this. C (attrib.) Chief performer or instrument of a specified type (lead guitar). 7 cards a act or right of playing first. B card led. lead by the nose cajole into compliance. Lead off begin. Lead on entice dishonestly. Lead up the garden path colloq. Mislead. Lead up to form a preparation for; direct conversation towards. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
28. n.
1 heavy bluish-grey soft metallic element. 2 a graphite. B thin length of this in a pencil. 3 lump of lead used in sounding water. 4 (in pl.) A strips of lead covering a roof. B piece of lead-covered roof. 5 (in pl.) Lead frames holding the glass of a lattice etc. 6 blank space between lines of print. v. 1 cover, weight, or frame with lead. 2 space (printed matter) with leads. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
29. slang
or FRIENDLY LEAD, a gathering at a low public-house, for the
purpose of assisting some one who is “in trouble” (in these cases
trouble always means imprisonment), who has just “come out of trouble,”
or who is in want of a “mouthpiece.” A LEAD is different from a raffle,
inasmuch as no article is put up or thrown for, but in the course of the
evening some friend of the troubled one LEADS OFF by putting a certain
sum in a plate, and the remainder of the party follow the LEAD with
whatever they can spare. Sometimes people pay as they enter the room,
but this does not alter the title or character of the meeting. In every
other respect a LEAD is similar to a raffle; songs, dances, drinking,
and a general desire to increase the bastardy averages being the most
conspicuous features of the entertainment. Irish LEADS and raffles are
characterized by less vice and more quarrelling than those of the lower
orders of English people.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
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