LEAD

Definitions for the word, lead

(n.) A lode.

(n.) A plummet or mass of lead, used in sounding at sea.

(n.) A small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils.

(n.) A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.

(n.) An article made of lead or an alloy of lead

(n.) An open way in an ice field.

(n.) One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic weight, 206.4. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide.

(n.) precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; as, the white horse had the lead; a lead of a boat's length, or of half a second.

(n.) Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.

(n.) The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take the lead; to be under the lead of another.

(n.) The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played; as, your partner has the lead.

(n.) The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet.

(n.) The course of a rope from end to end.

(n.) the distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment.

(n.) The width of port opening which is uncovered by the valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the piston is at end of its stroke.

(v. i.) To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; -- used in most of the senses of lead, v. t.

(v. t.) To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.

(v. t.) To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party.

(v. t.) To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.

(v. t.) To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause.

(v. t.) To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.

(v. t.) To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.

(v. t.) To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).

(v. t.) To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.

(v. t.) To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page; leaded matter.

(v. t.) To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices.