to guide (a person or an animal) along a way, esp by going in front

to cause (somebody) to go with one, esp under duress

The guards led the condemned man to the scaffold

to direct or guide (somebody) on a course or to a state or condition; to influence (somebody)

Reflection led her to a better understanding of the problem

to serve as a channel or route for (something)

A pipe leads water to the house

to be first or ahead

to go or be at the head of (something)

The mayor led the procession

to act as or be a leader in or of (a group, activity, etc)

to direct the operations, activity, or performance of (an undertaking); to have charge of

The investigation was led by a senior police officer

to be ahead of (a rival or rivals), e.g. in a race

to guide somebody or something along a way

to lie or run in a specified place or direction

The path leads uphill

to serve as an entrance or passage

This door leads to the garden

to tend or be directed towards a specified result

study leading to a degree

to act as or be a leader

to be first or ahead

(often + off) to begin or open

She led off with a joke about her hotel room

to play the first card of a trick, round, or game

(+ with) to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing with the specified hand

He led with his right

a position at the front or ahead

in the lead

a margin or position of advantage or superiority

guidance, direction, or example

I followed her lead

an indication or clue

a principal role in a dramatic production, or an actor who plays a principal role

(used before a noun) singing or playing the melody or principal part in music

lead guitarist

the lead weight on a sounding line

(in pl) lead framing for panes in windows

in printing, a space between lines of type, or a thin strip of metal used to create this

bullets or similar projectiles

The lead was flying

Brit (in pl) a flat roof covered with thin lead sheets, or the lead sheets themselves

= white lead

= tetraethyl lead