lead
/lɛd/ noun A2- A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82.
- A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or to estimate velocity in knots.
- A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing.
- Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading. · This copy has too much lead; I prefer less space between the lines.
- Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs.
- A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
- A thin cylinder of graphite used in pencils.
- Bullets; ammunition. · They pumped him full of lead.
Plural leads
Phrasal verbs and expressions
- lead in Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lead, in.
- lead off Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lead, ...
- lead on To mislead, to try to make someone believe a lie.
- lead out To pad out (text) by inserting lead slugs between words.
- lead out Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lead, ...
- lead through To take turns leading an expedition.
From the library
The Scarecrow, who was in the lead, finally discovered a big tree with such wide-spreading branches that there was room for the party to pass underneath.
“Not the slightest, but yet it seems to me a shocking thing that a mere joke should lead to such consequences.”
The curtain at length fell on the performances, to the infinite satisfaction of the Viscount of Morcerf, who seized his hat, rapidly passed his fingers through his hair, arranged his cravat and wristbands, and signified to Franz that he was waiting for him to lead the way.
The two oarsmen bent to their work, and the little boat glided away as rapidly as possible in the midst of the thousand vessels which choke up the narrow way which leads between the two rows of ships from the mouth of the harbor to the Quai d’Orléans.
Other matches
- lead To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means ... B1
- lead Foremost. B1
- lead To cover, fill, or affect with lead. C2
- lead The act of leading or conducting C2
- lead in Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: ...
- lead off Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: ...
- lead on To mislead, to try to make someone believe a lie.
- lead out To pad out
Learn lead in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.