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LEADING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The activity of leading
Example:
his leadership inspired the team
Synonyms:
leadership; leading
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("leading" is a kind of...):
activity (any specific behavior)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "leading"):
helm ((figurative) a position of leadership)
lead (a position of being the initiator of something and an example that others will follow (especially in the phrase 'take the lead'))
trend setting (the initiating or popularizing of a trend or fashion)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
Synonyms:
lead; leading
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("leading" is a kind of...):
slip; strip (artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way
Example:
the leading edge of technology
Classified under:
Similar:
directing; directional; directive; guiding (showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on)
guiding (exerting control or influence)
Antonym:
following (going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Indicating the most important performer or role
Example:
a stellar performance
Synonyms:
leading; prima; star; starring; stellar
Classified under:
Similar:
major (of greater importance or stature or rank)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement
Example:
a preeminent archeologist
Synonyms:
leading; preeminent
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
superior (of or characteristic of high rank or importance)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Having the leading position or higher score in a contest
Example:
the leading team in the pennant race
Synonyms:
ahead; in the lead; leading
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
up (being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb lead
Context examples:
DMGs are aggressive, hard-to-treat tumors that represent the leading cause of brain cancer-related death.
(Scientists find promising drug combination against lethal childhood brain cancers, National Institutes of Health)
Insights from her research also could have important applications for biology, ultimately leading to possible future medical treatments, because disordered cells also exist in tissues, in developing embryos and in certain cancers.
(Materials, like metallic glass, can help us understand how cells break, NSF)
In the nucleus NF-AT forms complexes with the GATA-4 and other transcription factors leading to activation of transcription of genes (e.g., ANF, a-actin, b-myosin, TNFa, ET-1, Adss1) essential for cardiac development.
(NFAT Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)
The proteins are localized to membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to their proposed designation as 'reticulons.'
(Neuroendocrine-Specific Protein, NCI Thesaurus/from OMIM)
A leading trade association in the USA whose members are manufacturers of electro industry products.
(National Electrical Manufacturers Association, NCI Thesaurus)
Simple as it has been in its leading features, it has none the less presented surprising difficulties in the way of an arrest.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
You see here, and here, the small feet have their toes to the house, while the others are all leading away.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“If I have no better fortune,” said Alleyne, leading Sir Nigel aside.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Also, R&D leading to the ability to design and synthesize, in a controlled manner, nanostructured materials with targeted properties.
(Nanomaterials, NCI Thesaurus)
Like other retinoic acid agents, namirotene binds to and activates retinoic acid receptors (RARs), thereby altering the expression of certain genes leading to cell differentiation and decreased cell proliferation in susceptible cells.
(Namirotene, NCI Thesaurus)
