lead

I UK [liːd] / US [lɪd] verb
Word forms "lead":
present tense I/you/we/they lead he/she/it leads present participle leading past tense led UK [led] / US past participle led
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1) [intransitive/transitive] to walk, drive, fly, sail etc in front of a group of people, vehicles, planes, ships etc

Leading the mourners were his widow and 14-year-old daughter.

She led us down the hill.

lead someone into something:

He led his men into battle.

a) [transitive] to show someone the way to a place by going there with them

After showing us the dining room, the estate agent led us into the kitchen.

lead the way (= show others the way to a place):

Sheila turned and led the way downstairs.

b) [transitive] to take or pull a person or animal somewhere by holding onto them or onto something fastened to them

She took the boy by the hand and led him from the room.

Dismounting, I led the horse by the reins back to the stable.

c) [intransitive/transitive] if something such as a road, river, or door leads in a particular direction or to a particular place, or if it leads you there, it goes in that direction or to that place

The road leads west for three miles then turns south.

We followed a dirt track leading through the woods.

The pipe leads from the water heater to the bathroom upstairs.

a narrow alleyway leading off the High Street

This door leads you to a large entrance hall.

2)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to be winning at a particular time during a race or competition

The polls show Labour leading with only 10 days left until the election.

lead someone by something:

France was leading England at half time by 3 goals to 2.

lead the field:

Johnson led the field throughout the final day of the rally.

b) [intransitive/transitive] to be the most successful, popular, or advanced of all the people, groups, organizations etc involved in a particular activity

lead the world (in something):

They lead the world in oil production.

lead the field:

Spain still leads the field as the top British holiday destination.

3)

a) [transitive] to be in control of an organization, group of people, or activity

She led the software development team during the project.

b) [intransitive/transitive] to be in control of the way in which a discussion or conversation develops

I asked Ned to lead the discussion.

lead something away from something:

She kept trying to lead the conversation away from personal matters.

4) [transitive] to cause someone to do something

lead someone to do something:

He said differences over foreign policy had led him to resign.

I had been led to believe that the job was mine if I wanted it.

5) [transitive] to live your life in a particular way

lead a good/happy/busy/quiet etc life:

He had always led a quiet life until he met Emma.

6) [intransitive/transitive] to begin a part of a card game by playing a particular card

lead with:

She led with the eight of spades.

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- be easily led

- lead nowhere

- lead the way

Phrasal verbs:

- lead into

- lead off

- lead on

- lead on to

- lead to

- lead up to

- lead with

II UK [liːd] / US [lɪd] noun
Word forms "lead":
singular lead plural leads
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1)

a) [singular] the first position at a particular time during a race or competition

He regained his lead in the final lap of the race.

in the lead (= winning):

The latest polls show the Labour candidate in the lead.

have/hold the lead (= be winning):

We had the lead until the beginning of the second half.

b) [singular] the distance, amount of time, number of points etc by which someone is winning a race or competition

a narrow lead

They've increased their lead to three points.

have a lead of:

The Spanish rider has a lead of 35 seconds over his nearest rival.

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Collocations:
Verbs frequently used with lead as the object ▪  establish, extend, have, hold, increase, maintain, regain, take

2) [countable] the main part for an actor in a play, film, or television programme

play the lead (in something):

She's playing the lead in her school play.

a) [countable] the main actor in a play, film, or television programme

the male/female lead:

Glenn Close was chosen as the female lead.

b) [only before noun] a lead singer, dancer, guitar etc is the main singer, dancer, guitar player etc in a group

3) [countable] a piece of information that may help someone to solve a problem or to find out the truth about something, especially a crime

The investigation will be scaled down unless new leads are discovered.

4) [countable] an action that is an example for someone to copy

give a lead:

The United States was criticized for not having given a lead.

follow someone's lead:

North Korea is to follow China's lead in attracting foreign capital and expertise.

5) [countable] the most important story on the front page of a newspaper, or the first piece of news on a news broadcast

the lead on all today's front pages

a lead story:

It was the lead story on the evening news.

6) [countable] a long narrow piece of leather, chain etc that you fasten to the collar around a dog's neck in order to control the dog. The usual American word is leash

on a lead:

All dogs must be kept on a lead in the park.

7) [countable] British an electrical wire that connects a piece of equipment such as a television or a telephone to a power supply. The American word is cord.

See:

jump leads

8) [singular] mainly American the management or leadership of an organization or company

She took over the lead of the corporation after her father's death.

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- someone's lead

- take the lead

III UK [led] / US noun
Word forms "lead":
singular lead plural leads
*

1) [uncountable] a soft heavy grey metal used especially in the past for making pipes, covering roofs, and in paint

lead pipes

2) [countable/uncountable] the long thin black centre part of a pencil that you make marks with

3) leads

[plural] British flat pieces of lead used for covering roofs

4) leads

[plural] small narrow pieces of lead used as frames for small pieces of glass in a window

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pump/fill someone full of lead — informal to shoot someone with a lot of bullets