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LEAD
Irregular inflected form: led 
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The playing of a card to start a trick in bridge
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')
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 wire
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 pencil
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 printing
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 animal
Synonyms:
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 engine
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 race
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 solution
Example:
the trail led straight to the perpetrator
Synonyms:
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 story
Example:
it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter
Synonyms:
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 importance
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 opportunity
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 base
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 role
Synonyms:
Classified under:
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 winning
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)
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 grey
Example:
the children were playing with lead soldiers
Synonyms:
atomic number 82; lead; Pb
Classified under:
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
Past simple: led
Past participle: led
-ing form: leading
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cause to undertake a certain action
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 over
Example:
John moderated the discussion
Synonyms:
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 composition
Example:
conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years
Synonyms:
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 space
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 others
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 somewhere
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 of
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 to
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 residue
Example:
Her blood left a stain on the napkin
Synonyms:
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 in
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 point
Example:
The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
Synonyms:
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 access
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 somewhere
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 first
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
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)
