lead

¹lead

verb \ˈlēd\

led \ˈled\ lead·ing

Definition of LEAD

transitive verb

1

a : to guide on a way especially by going in advance b : to direct on a course or in a direction c : to serve as a channel for <a pipe leads water to the house>

2

: to go through : live <lead a quiet life>

3

a (1) : to direct the operations, activity, or performance of <lead an orchestra> (2) : to have charge of <lead a campaign> (3) : to ask (a witness) a question in a way that suggests what the answer should be : to ask (a witness) a leading question b (1) : to go at the head of <lead a parade> (2) : to be first in or among <lead the league> (3) : to have a margin over <led his opponent>

4

: to bring to some conclusion or condition <led to believe otherwise>

5

: to begin play with <lead trumps>

6

a : to aim in front of (a moving object) <lead a duck> b : to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)

intransitive verb

1

a : to guide someone or something along a way b : to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction <path leads uphill> c : to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance

2

a : to be first b (1) : begin, open (2) : to play the first card of a trick, round, or game

3

: to tend toward or have a result <study leading to a degree>

4

: to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing

— lead one down the garden path also lead one up the garden path

: hoodwink, deceive

Origin of LEAD

Middle English leden, from Old English lǣdan; akin to Old High German leiten to lead, Old English līthan to go

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with LEAD

bead, Bede, bleed, brede, breed, cede, creed, deed, feed, Gide, gleed, greed, heed, keyed, knead, kneed, mead, Mead, Mede, meed, need, plead, read, rede, reed, screed, seed, Snead, speed, steed, swede, treed, tweed, weed