lead
     n 1: a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white
          when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull gray;
          "the children were playing with lead soldiers" [syn: {Pb},
           {atomic number 82}]
     2: an advantage held by a competitor in a race; "he took the
        lead at the last turn"
     3: evidence pointing to a possible solution; "the police are
        following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to
        the perpetrator" [syn: {track}, {trail}]
     4: a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the
        lead'); "he takes the lead in any group"; "we were just
        waiting for someone to take the lead"; "they didn't follow
        our lead"
     5: the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the
        position of a moving target (correcting for the flight
        time of the missile)
     6: the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing
        lead-in to a very serious matter" [syn: {lead-in}]
     7: an actor who plays a principal role [syn: {star}, {principal}]
     8: (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to
        advance to the next base; "he took a long lead off first"
     9: an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the
        stock market"; "a good lead for a job" [syn: {tip}, {steer},
         {confidential information}, {wind}, {hint}]
     10: a news story of major importance [syn: {lead story}]
     11: the timing of ignition relative to the position of the
         piston in an internal-combustion engine [syn: {spark
         advance}]
     12: restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to
         restrain an animal [syn: {leash}, {tether}]
     13: thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in
         printing [syn: {leading}]
     14: mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of
         hardness; the marking substance in a pencil [syn: {pencil
         lead}]
     15: a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire; "it was a
         tangle of jumper cables and clip leads" [syn: {jumper
         cable}, {jumper lead}]
     16: the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge; "the lead
         was in the dummy"
     v 1: take somebody somewhere; "We lead him to our chief"; "can
          you take me to the main entrance?"; "He conducted us to
          the palace" [syn: {take}, {direct}, {conduct}, {guide}]
     2: result in; "The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her
        blood left a stain on the napkin" [syn: {leave}, {result}]
     3: tend to or result in; "This remark lead to further arguments
        among the guests"
     4: travel in front of; go in advance of others; "The procession
        was headed by John" [syn: {head}]
     5: cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to
        forge the checks"
     6: stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or
        extend between two points or beyond a certain point;
        "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" [syn: {run}, {go}, {pass}, {extend}]
     7: be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?" [syn: {head}]
     8: be ahead of others; be the first; "she topped her class
        every year" [syn: {top}]
     9: be conducive to; "The use of computers in the classroom lead
        to better writing" [syn: {contribute}, {conduce}]
     10: lead, as in the performance of a composition; "conduct an
         orchestra; Bairenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for
         years" [syn: {conduct}, {direct}]
     11: pass or spend; "lead a good life"
     12: lead, extend, or afford access; "This door goes to the
         basement"; "The road runs South" [syn: {go}]
     13: move ahead (of others) in time or space [syn: {precede}]
         [ant: {follow}]
     14: cause something to pass or lead somewhere; "Run the wire
         behind the cabinet" [syn: {run}]
     15: preside over; "John moderated the discussion" [syn: {moderate},
          {chair}]
     [also: {led}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0