led
Often confused with lead
- 1Past tense and past participle of lead.
Years of poor planning led to the company's collapse.
He has led a quiet life since retiring from the navy.
Note
One spelling does both jobs here: led is the simple past (she led the march) and the past participle after have or be (she has led it for years; the march was led by students). Lead is irregular, so its past is never leaded. The same letters in capitals spell the light source, an unrelated word.
- 2Initialism of light-emitting diode.
A single red LED blinks on the panel whenever the alarm is armed.
The city replaced its old streetlights with LED fixtures to cut energy costs.
Note
Most speakers say it letter by letter, so it usually takes an: an LED, an LED screen. The plural is LEDs, with a lowercase s. Before another noun it names the light source, as in LED panels or LED streetlights. Small commercial LEDs are rated for brightness in millicandelas (mcd).
- 3Under the control or leadership of someone.
A UN-led peacekeeping force moved into the border region last week.
Members can join a led walk or set off alone with a map.
Similarguided
Less common meaning
- 4Of a farm, etc.: managed by a deputy instead of the owner or tenant in person.
Showing meanings only.
led is a form of lead
lead, verb: To result in something or be the cause of it. Full entry
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