lead

Less common meanings

14. 14
    LED/lɛd/

    pencil corenouncountable

    The thin cylinder of graphite inside a pencil, which makes the marks when you write.

    He pressed so hard that the lead snapped against the paper.

    Artists choose softer leads for rich, dark shading.

    UsageA lead can snap; say pencil lead to be clear. It rhymes with bed.

    Note

    Here the word names graphite, not the metal. A pencil's core shares its name with the metal but contains none of it: when pure graphite was mined in Cumbria in the 1500s, people took it for a kind of lead, and the name stuck. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • The pencil core referred to here contains graphite, not metallic lead. medlineplus.gov
    • Exceptionally pure graphite was mined at Borrowdale, in present-day Cumbria, during the 1500s. historicengland.org.uk
    • Graphite was mistaken for a form of lead, explaining the surviving name for the pencil core. en.wikipedia.org
15. 15
    liveverbtransitive

    To have or pursue a particular kind of life, such as a quiet or double one.

    After retiring, they lead a peaceful life by the sea.

    She led a double life that no one suspected.

    UsageUsually takes life as its object, often with an adjective: lead a quiet life, lead a double life.

    Similarlive, have, pursue

    Note

    Tennyson turns the phrase around in In Memoriam (1850), where 'a life that leads melodious days' makes the life the one doing the leading. Black Sabbath's 'N.I.B.' (1970) shows the everyday relative form: the life you led. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

    • Alfred Tennyson wrote In Memoriam, first published in 1850. en.wikisource.org
    • In Memoriam contains the quoted wording, with life as the grammatical subject of leads. gutenberg.org
    • Black Sabbath's N.I.B. was released in 1970. iommi.com
    • N.I.B. contains the words the life you led. iommi.com
16. 16
    cluenouncountable or uncountable

    A piece of information that gives an investigator or reporter a way to find out more about a crime, incident, or story.

    A tip from a neighbor became the lead that cracked the case.

    Detectives chased down a promising lead in the harbor district.

    UsageFollow up a lead, a promising lead; investigators often have several leads.

    Similarclue, tip, trail, pointer

    Note

    The detective's lead is something to follow. The picture is of a trail that goes somewhere, which is why the word is so often plural: investigators work several at once. Reporters use it the same way for a line on a story.

17. 17
    noununcountable

    The principal tune or solo line in a piece of music, especially one that is sung or played on lead guitar.

    On the band's new single, the drummer steps out from behind his kit to sing lead.

    The violins carry the lead in the opening bars before passing it to the flutes.

    UsageRhymes with need. Sing lead and play lead take no article.

    Similarmelody

    Note

    In an arrangement the lead is simply whichever part carries the melody at that moment, so a violin section can take it as readily as a singer. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • A violin section can carry the melody in an arrangement. open.edu
18. 18
    leashnouncountable or uncountable

    A rope, strap, or chain attached to an animal's collar to guide and restrain it; a leash.

    The trainer kept a short lead on the nervous horse.

    He unclipped the lead and let the dog run on the beach.

    UsageCommon in on a lead and off the lead.

    Similarleash, tether

    Note

    Named for its job: a lead is what you lead an animal by, the tool of guiding by hand or halter. Leash is its closest synonym. The word works with handling verbs, so a trainer keeps a short lead for close control and unclips it to give freedom. Source

    Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

    • The animal-restraint noun lead is connected with the verb meaning to guide an animal. en.wiktionary.org
    • Leash is a synonym of lead in this sense. en.wiktionary.org
19. 19
    LED/lɛd/

    bulletsnounslangcountable or uncountable

    Bullets or ammunition, especially as fired from guns.

    The outlaws sprayed the saloon with lead until their guns clicked empty.

    Pinned down behind the wagon, they had no lead left to return fire.

    UsageSet phrase full of lead. In factual writing, say bullets.

    Similarbullets, ammunition, ammo

    Note

    Slang names the bullet by its metal. The phrase it lives in is vivid and violent: they pumped him full of lead. Kendrick Lamar's 'Backseat Freestyle' (2012) threatens a 'lead shower'. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

    • The slang sense refers to bullets by the metal used to make them. en.wikipedia.org
    • They pumped him full of lead is an example of lead meaning bullets or ammunition. en.wiktionary.org
    • Backseat Freestyle is a Kendrick Lamar song first released in 2012. en.wikipedia.org
    • Lamar threatens a lead shower in the song, using those exact words. en.wiktionary.org
20. 20
    cablenounUKcountable

    An insulated metallic wire used to connect electrical devices and equipment to power or to one another.

    The lead on the old lamp had frayed near the plug, so he replaced it before anyone got a shock.

    A frayed lead can be dangerous and should be replaced at once.

    Similarcable, cord, wire, flex

    Note

    In British English this is the everyday word for the insulated wire on a lamp or a charger. It belongs to the guiding verb, not to the metal. A lead carries current from one place to another much as a dog's lead guides an animal. Source

    Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

    • The electrical-wire sense belongs to the etymological family of the guiding verb, rather than the metal; Wiktionary places it under Etymology 2. en.wiktionary.org
    • An electrical lead conducts electricity between locations. en.wikipedia.org
21. 21
    nounUScountable or uncountable

    The opening paragraph or paragraphs of a newspaper story or other article, giving the most important information.

    Editors trimmed the lead to fit the front page.

    Her lead opened with a single dramatic sentence.

    UsageJournalists often spell it lede; in ordinary prose, lead is the usual spelling.

    Similarintro, opening, introduction

    Note

    American journalism calls the opening paragraph the lead and often spells it lede to avoid ambiguity. The spelling keeps it apart from the word's other newsroom senses, such as the printer's strip of type metal. Lead paragraph says the same thing at full length. Source

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • The spelling 'lede' serves to distinguish the journalistic sense from other senses of 'lead', including the metal. uscupstate.libguides.com
    • 'Lead' also denotes a printer's strip of type metal. en.wiktionary.org
22. 22
    nouncountable or uncountable

    The most important news story, placed on the front page or first in a broadcast.

    The election results were the lead on every network last night.

    Editors argued over whether the storm or the strike should be the lead.

    UsageA story is the lead, or it leads the news.

    Similarheadline

    Note

    Journalists sometimes spell an article's opening paragraph lede, though lead is also used for that meaning.

23. 23
    baseballnouncountable or uncountable

    In baseball, the position a base runner takes by stepping away from the base while waiting for the pitch.

    He took an aggressive lead and dashed for second on the next pitch.

    Coaches warn young players that too large a lead invites a pickoff throw.

    Note

    Baseball's word for the steps a runner takes off the bag before the pitch. Runners take a lead, and it is reckoned from the base they occupy: a lead from first. A bigger lead shortens the run to the next base but invites the pitcher to throw behind the runner. The action has a verb of the same form: a runner leads off first. Source

    Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

    • A bigger lead reduces the distance the runner must cover to reach the next base. mlb.com
    • A bigger lead exposes the runner to being picked off. en.wikipedia.org
24. 24
    play first (cards)verbtransitive

    To begin a game, round, or trick by playing a particular card or piece first.

    He leads trumps early to draw out his opponents' high cards.

    In euchre, the player to the dealer's left may lead any suit.

    Oppositefollow

    Note

    A card player's verb whose object is the card itself, not a person: you lead the ace of spades, or lead trumps, naming the suit in the plural. Dominoes use it the same way for the opening piece. The matching noun is the lead, the right to play first, so the player who has the lead is the one who leads.

25. 25
    noununcountable

    In card games and dominoes, the first play of a game or round or the right to make it; also, the card, suit or piece played first.

    In this game, the player on the dealer's left has the lead for the first trick.

    Grandpa put down the double six as his lead, and play moved around the table.

    Note

    At the card table the noun travels with the matching verb: whoever has the lead leads, and the card put down is itself the lead. In trick-taking games such as whist and bridge, winning a trick normally earns the lead for the next one, so the right to play first keeps moving around the table. Bridge players also speak of the opening lead. Source

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • In whist, the winner of a trick leads to the next trick. en.wikipedia.org
    • In bridge, the winner of a trick leads to the next trick. cdn.acbl.org
26. 26
    noun

    A weight of lead tied to a line and dropped overboard to measure how deep the water is, once also used to gauge a ship's speed.
27. 27
    noun

    In letterpress work, a slim metal spacer placed below each row of set characters to open up the gap.
28. 28
    noun

    The amount of up-and-down room given to each row of printed words, also called leading.
29. 29
    noun

    Sheets of the soft gray metal rolled out and laid as a roof covering.
30. 30
    noun

    A roof, or part of one, covered in sheet lead or in plates coated with a lead and tin alloy, often used in the plural.
31. 31
    noun

    A lead-lined apron or garment worn to shield the body from radiation during an X-ray.
32. 32
    verb

    To apply lead to something, for example as a lining, coating, or added weight.
33. 33
    verb

    To widen the spacing of printed lines by inserting thin metal strips between them.
34. 34
    verb

    To be ahead of competitors in technical progress or market position.
35. 35
    verb

    In baseball, for a runner to edge a few steps off the base toward the next one before the pitch.
36. 36
    verb

    To point a gun slightly ahead of a target that is moving so the shot meets it as it goes by.
37. 37
    verb

    In rock climbing, to go up first, clipping the rope into protection along the way instead of being protected by a rope from above.
38. 38
    noun

    A lane of open water that cracks open through sea ice or pack ice.
39. 39
    noun

    A vein of metal ore running through rock, also called a lode.
40. 40
    noun

    The path a rope follows along its whole length, as through blocks and fairleads on a ship.
41. 41
    noun

    In a steam engine, how far the valve has already opened the steam port at the moment the piston reaches the end of its travel.
42. 42
    noun

    In earthmoving, how far material must be carried, for example from where it is dug out to where it is dumped as fill.
43. 43
    noun

    The pushing action of one gear tooth on another tooth or on a pallet, as in a clock mechanism.
44. 44
    noun

    An idea or possible explanation that has not yet been checked or followed up.
45. 45
    noun

    In curling, the team member who delivers the team's opening two stones in each end.
46. 46
    noun

    For a screw, how far it moves along its axis in one full turn, which is the pitch multiplied by the number of thread starts.
47. 47
    noun

    The singer who carries the tune in barbershop harmony, normally the second tenor.
48. 48
    noun

    The first statement of a musical theme by one part, which the other parts then take up in turn.
49. 49
    noun

    A sign or brief phrase in one part of a canon or similar piece that cues the other parts to come in.
50. 50
    noun

    In electronic music, the synthesizer sound that carries the melody, often made from simple wave shapes like sawtooth or square waves.
51. 51
    noun

    The amount by which the angle between neighboring cranks on one engine shaft exceeds ninety degrees, as in a compound engine.
52. 52
    noun

    In a direct-current dynamo, the angle by which the brush line is shifted from the line midway between the magnetic poles.
53. 53
    noun

    In an alternating-current circuit, the amount by which the current runs ahead in phase of the voltage that drives it.