lead

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

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

(noun) evidence pointing to a possible solution. Synonyms: track, trail. Examples: "The police are following a promising lead." "The trail led straight to the perpetrator."

(noun) a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead'). Examples: "He takes the lead in any group." "We were just waiting for someone to take the lead." "They didn't follow our lead."

(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).

(noun) the introductory section of a story. Synonyms: lead-in, lede. Examples: "It was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter."

(noun) (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning.

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

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

(noun) an indication of potential opportunity. Synonyms: tip, steer, confidential information, wind, hint. Examples: "He got a tip on the stock market." "A good lead for a job."

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

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

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

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

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

(noun) a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire. Synonyms: jumper cable, jumper lead, booster cable. Examples: "It was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads."

(noun) the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge. Examples: "The lead was in the dummy."

(verb) take somebody somewhere. Synonyms: take, direct, conduct, guide. Examples: "We lead him to our chief." "Can you take me to the main entrance?." "He conducted us to the palace."

(verb) have as a result or residue. Synonyms: leave, result. Examples: "The water left a mark on the silk dress." "Her blood left a stain on the napkin."

(verb) tend to or result in. Examples: "This remark lead to further arguments among the guests."

(verb) travel in front of; go in advance of others. Synonyms: head. Examples: "The procession was headed by john."

(verb) cause to undertake a certain action. Examples: "Her greed led her to forge the checks."

(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. Examples: "Service runs all the way to cranbury." "His knowledge doesn't go very far." "My memory extends back to my fourth year of life." "The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets."

(verb) be in charge of. Synonyms: head. Examples: "Who is heading this project?."

(verb) be ahead of others; be the first. Synonyms: top. Examples: "She topped her class every year."

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

(verb) lead, as in the performance of a composition. Synonyms: conduct, direct. Examples: "Conduct an orchestra; barenboim conducted the chicago symphony for years."

(verb) lead, extend, or afford access. Synonyms: go. Examples: "This door goes to the basement." "The road runs south."

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

(verb) cause something to pass or lead somewhere. Synonyms: run. Examples: "Run the wire behind the cabinet."

(verb) preside over. Synonyms: moderate, chair. Examples: "John moderated the discussion."