Word: lead Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English leden, from Old English lǣdan (“to lead”), from Proto-West Germanic *laidijan, from Proto-Germanic *laidijaną (“to cause one to go, lead”), causative of Proto-Germanic *līþaną (“to go”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyt- (“to leave, die”). Cognate with West Frisian liede (“to lead”), Dutch leiden (“to lead”), German leiten (“to lead”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål lede (“to lead”), Norwegian Nynorsk leia (“to lead”), Swedish leda (“to lead”), Faroese and Icelandic leiða (“to lead”). Related to Old English līþan (“to go, travel”). Pronunciation: /ˈliːd/, [ˈlɪi̯d] 1. The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction, course Labels: countable Example: to take the lead Example: to be under the lead of another 2. Precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; the state of being ahead in a race; the highest score in an incomplete game. Labels: countable Example: the white horse had the lead. Example: to be in the lead 3. An insulated metallic wire for electrical devices and equipment. Labels: UK, countable 4. The situation where a runner steps away from a base while waiting for the pitch to be thrown. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The runner took his lead from first. 5. The act or right of playing first in a game or round; the card suit, or piece, so played Labels: uncountable Example: your partner has the lead 6. The main role in a play or film; the lead role. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: "You make moving pictures. In jungles and places." "That's me. And I've picked you for the lead in my next picture." 7. The actor who plays the main role; lead actor. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. The person in charge of a project or a work shift etc. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: John is the development lead on this software product. 9. A channel of open water in an ice field. Labels: countable 10. A lode. Labels: countable 11. The course of a rope from end to end. Labels: countable, uncountable 12. A rope, leather strap, or similar device with which to lead an animal; a leash Labels: countable, uncountable 13. In a steam engine, 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. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Usage note: When used alone it means outside lead, or lead for the admission of steam. Inside lead refers to the release or exhaust. 14. The distance of haul, as from a cutting to an embankment. Labels: countable, uncountable 15. The action of a tooth, such as a tooth of a wheel, in impelling another tooth or a pallet. Labels: countable, uncountable 16. Hypothesis that has not been pursued Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The investigation stalled when all leads turned out to be dead ends. 17. Information obtained by a detective or police officer that allows him or her to discover further details about a crime or incident. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The police have a couple of leads they will follow to solve the case. 18. Potential opportunity for a sale or transaction, a potential customer. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Joe is a great addition to our sales team, he has numerous leads in the paper industry. 19. Information obtained by a news reporter about an issue or subject that allows him or her to discover more details. Labels: countable, uncountable 20. The player who throws the first two rocks for a team. Labels: countable, uncountable 21. The introductory paragraph or paragraphs of a newspaper, or a news or other type of article. (Sometimes spelled as lede for this usage to avoid ambiguity.) Labels: US, countable, uncountable 22. An important news story that appears on the front page of a newspaper or at the beginning of a news broadcast Labels: countable, uncountable 23. The axial distance a screw thread travels in one revolution. It is equal to the pitch times the number of starts. Labels: countable, uncountable 24. In a barbershop quartet, the person who sings the melody, usually the second tenor. Labels: countable, uncountable 25. The announcement by one voice part of a theme to be repeated by the other parts. Labels: countable, uncountable 26. A mark or a short passage in one voice part, as of a canon, serving as a cue for the entrance of others. Labels: countable, uncountable 27. A primary synth, often composed of square, sawtooth, triangle or sine waveforms. Labels: countable, uncountable 28. The excess above a right angle in the angle between two consecutive cranks, as of a compound engine, on the same shaft. Labels: countable, uncountable 29. The angle between the line joining the brushes of a continuous-current dynamo and the diameter symmetrical between the poles. Labels: countable, uncountable 30. The advance of the current phase in an alternating circuit beyond that of the electromotive force producing it. Labels: countable, uncountable