Definition of lead1

lead1noun

chì1

/liːd//liːd/

Word OriginOld English lǣdan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leiden and German leiten, also to load and lode.

first place

the position ahead of everyone else in a race or competition

Example:
  • She took the lead in the second lap.
  • to hold (onto)/regain the lead
  • The Democrats now appear to be in the lead.
  • He has gone into the lead.
  • The lead car is now three minutes ahead of the rest of the field.
Extra examples:
  • That game puts her back into the lead.
  • They regained the lead with only a few minutes left to play.
  • We were struggling to stay in the lead.

the amount or distance that somebody/something is in front of somebody/something else

Example:
  • a commanding/comfortable lead
  • to extend/stretch/double/increase your lead
  • Labour have taken a lead of five points in the polls.
  • He managed to hold a lead of two seconds over his closest rival.
  • An own goal from United gave Chelsea an early two-goal lead in the 11th minute.
Extra examples:
  • The polls have given Labour a five-point lead.
  • Manchester lost their early two-goal lead.
  • They took an early lead.
  • They took a 3–0 lead in the first leg of the semi-final.
  • The yacht quickly established a one-mile lead over the nearest rival.
  • This win gives the team a two-point lead over their closest rival.
  • He had opened up a small lead over his opponent.
  • The team has now built up a commanding lead.
  • She has a narrow lead over the other runners.
  • Opinion polls showed him with a solid lead over his rivals.
  • Houston increased their lead to 13–7
  • Sheffield increased their lead just before half time.
  • He gradually extended his lead in the second half of the race to win by 49 seconds.

Related words and phrases

example

an example or action for people to copy

Example:
  • If one bank raises interest rates, all the others will follow their lead.
  • If we take the lead in this (= start to act), others may follow.
  • You go first—I'll take my lead from you.
Extra examples:
  • Sixth-formers are seen to give the lead to younger students.
  • Intellectuals took the lead in criticism of the government.
  • The country is yearning for a firm moral lead.
  • The report did not provide a clear lead for the improvement of training.
  • The government should give a lead in tackling racism.
  • We should follow their lead in banning chemical weapons.
  • corporations that have chosen to take the lead on the privacy issue
information

a piece of information that may help to find out the truth or facts about a situation, especially a crime

Example:
  • The police will follow up all possible leads.
Extra examples:
  • leads on the murderer's identity
  • They have several solid leads in their investigation.
  • The police are following every possible lead.
  • Some promising leads are already emerging.
  • It turned out to be a false lead.
  • He said that he has a lead as to where Dylan may be.
  • Did you find any leads when you searched it?

Related words and phrases

in business

a person or thing that may be useful to you, especially a possible new customer or business opportunity

Example:
  • The marketing campaign generated hundreds of new leads.
actor/musician

the main part in a play, film, etc.; the person who plays this part

Example:
  • Who is playing the lead?
  • the male/female lead
  • Both Christine and Fiona want the lead role.
  • I always dreamed of becoming the lead singer in a band.
  • the band's lead guitarist
Extra examples:
  • Who is playing the lead?
  • He sings the lead on four tracks.
  • Her big break came when she was chosen to play the lead in a Broadway musical.
person in charge

the person in charge of a project, department, etc.

Example:
  • Sam is the lead on this project.
  • Dr Mary Steadman, clinical lead in Accident and Emergency at the Royal Berkshire Hospital
  • He will become the lead presenter of the show from next month.
news

the first sentence or paragraph of a news story, giving the most important points of the story

Example:
  • Check out this lead from Monday's front page story:…
for dog

a long piece of leather, chain or rope used for holding and controlling a dog

Example:
  • Dogs must be kept on a lead in the park.
Extra examples:
  • Let the dog off the lead.
  • We have to keep him on a tight lead when there are other dogs around.
  • Give your dog a period of exercise off the lead.
for electricity

a long piece of wire, usually covered in plastic, that is used to connect a piece of electrical equipment to a source of electricity

Related words and phrases

Idioms

bury the lede/lead
to fail to emphasize the most important part of a story or account
  • Unfortunately, he buried the lede in the last paragraph of the story.